Study on anti-egg immunity in mice induced by recombinant antigens of schistosoma

Objective To observe the effect of anti-egg immunity in mice induced by recombinant 31/32kDa antigens of schistosoma japonicum(rSj31/32). Methods Mice were immunized with rSj31/32 antigens to detect quantitatively the egg burden in faeces,livers,intestines and uteri of female worms on day 42 after challenge infection with cercariae of S.japonicum. Results The number of whole egg in the livers,intestines and faeces were significantly reduced in mice immunized with rSj31/32 by 46.0%,76.0% and 83.0%,respectively.The number of mature egg in the livers and intestines were reduced by 69.0% and 91.0%,while the number of dead eggs was much greater in the liver of immunized mice than in that of control mice.In addition,the number of egg in the uteri of female worms was obviously decreased in mice immunized with rSj 31/32 antigens(49.8%). Conclusion The results indicated that rSj 31/32 could induce anti-fecundity and anti-embryonation immunity in mice.It might be a promising candidate antigen for anti-egg vaccine.