The protective effect of developmental stages in an Ascaris suum infection in the guinea pig

The capacity of various developmental stages of Ascaris suum to induce a protective immune response in the guinea pig model was evaluated. Larvated eggs, second, third or fourth stage larvae were injected into guinea pigs by either the suncutaneous, intramuscular, ear vein or mesenteric vein route. Animals were challenged with a mesenteric vein injection of artificially hatched infective larvae of A. suum. Second stage larvae produced the highest degree of immunity and fourth stage larvae produced the least protection comparing all routes of administration. The most effective route of immunization for all the developmental stages was the mesenteric vein. Antibody titer as assessed by indirect hemagglutination was not correlated with the degree of protection.