Intranasal immunisation with Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoite antigen encapsulated into PLG microspheres induces humoral and cell-mediated immunity in sheep.

Proteins from a crude extract of Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites were encapsulated into poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG) micro- and nano-particles with a mean encapsulation efficiency of 80%. An intranasal immunisation and infection experiment using 24 sheep was conducted to compare the immune responses elicited by intranasal administration of soluble and particulate T. gondii antigen (with and without cholera toxin). Sheep immunised with particulate toxoplasma antigen produced enhanced levels of both local and systemic antigen-specific IgA antibody, and showed increased cellular immune responses with a corresponding increase in IFNgamma production. After challenge with toxoplasma oocysts larger quantities of both nasal and systemic IgG were measured more rapidly in all animals immunised with toxoplasma antigen than animals infected with oocysts, suggesting a secondary-type IgG response. A slight modification of the febrile response to toxoplasma infection could be observed in animals immunised with particulate toxoplasma antigen and cholera toxin, although none of the immunised animals were protected against the challenge infection. These studies show that intra-nasal delivery has the potential to be an effective route for mucosal immunisation in sheep.