Immune responses in sheep naturally infected with Oestrus ovis (Diptera: Oestridae) and gastrointestinal nematodes

AbstractThis study was carried out to evaluate the immune response in young Ile de France (IF) and Santa Ines (SI) sheep naturally infected by Oestrus ovis and gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN). Mast cells, eosinophils and globule leucocytes were enumerated in the upper respiratory tract (septum, middle meatus and ventral nasal conchae) and in the mucosa of abomasum and small intestine. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels in serum samples and immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels in mucus from the nasal, abomasum and small intestinal mucosae were determined against O. ovis, Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis antigens. Significant positive correlation coefficients were observed in both breeds between the number of O. ovis larvae×IgG against Oestrus crude extract (IF: r=0.58; SI: r=0.66; P<0.05), and between O. ovis larvae x IgG against Oestrus excretory and secretory products (IF: r=0.59; SI: r=0.63; P