dc.contributor.author | Karanja, JN | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2013-05-10T09:06:34Z | |
dc.date.available | 2013-05-10T09:06:34Z | |
dc.date.issued | 1991 | |
dc.identifier.citation | Masters in Veterinary Public Health | en |
dc.identifier.uri | http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/21178 | |
dc.description.abstract | Hydatidosis is a cyclozoonosis that is caused by the larval stage
of the cestode Echinococcus granulosus. It is of major veterinary and
public health importance in many parts of the world. Several
measures are available for its control but mass chemotherapy, using
praziquantel is the main method used in dogs. Although the drug
used is 100% effective against adult stages of this tapeworm it is not
only expensive but also offers no protection against reinfection to
treated dogs. Hence, today there exists a great need for the
prolonged protection of dogs against this parasite.
In the present study vaccination of dogs against Echinococcus
granulosus and their response to challenge infections were
investigated. Intraperitoneal immunization of sixteen dogs was
carried out using dead or live Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces
obtained from hydatid cysts of sheep origin, and later challenged
with oral infection of about 34,000 protoscoleces in gelatin capsules.
The degree of immunity stimulated was assessed by the rate of worm
development and worm burdens in the vaccinated groups as
compared to those in controls. Antibodies raised against these
protoscoleces were detected using a crude protoscolex antigen in an
enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.
Results showed that there were no significant differences in
the levels of immunity developed by the vaccinated dogs as compared
to the controls. Innate resistance was thought to have played a major
role in the failure of establishment and development of Echinococcus
granulosus worms in these dogs. It is then felt that this line of
research utilizing crude protoscolex antigen offers little hope in
inducing immunity in dogs against this parasite. | en |
dc.language.iso | en | en |
dc.publisher | University of Nairobi | en |
dc.title | Stimulation of immune response in dogs against echinococcus granulosus | en |
dc.type | Thesis | en |
local.publisher | Department of Public Health, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Nairobi, Kenya | en |