Immunity to a challenge infection of Strongyloides stercoralis third-stage larvae in the jird

Jirds support the entire life-cycle of Strongyloides stercoralis. We therefore used this host as a model to define the mechanism of the immune response to a challenge infection, as well as the parasite stage effected by the response. Jirds given a primary infection of S. stercoralis are resistant to re-infection. The use of implanted diffusion chambers containing larvae showed that the immune response killed the third-stage larvae, and this was confirmed by subcutaneous infections. The larvae of a challenge infection are killed within 48 h, a time period too short to allow for the development of L4 and adult worms. The immune response is dependent on both a serum factor and cells, suggestive of an ADCC type response.