A comparison of cross protection between BCG, Hammondia hammondi, Besnoitia jellisoni and Toxoplasma gondii in hamsters.

The effect of pretreatment with BCG strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis or Hammondia hammondi 21 days before challenge with lethal doses of T oxoplasma gondii and Besnoitia jellisoni was studied in hamsters. The results indicated that the intracardial administration of BCG provided no protection against either T. gondii or B. jellisoni. The hamsters immunized with H. hammondi survived challenge with 10(4) lethal doses of T. gondii but only 1 lethal dose with B. jellisoni, indicating strong cross protection between H. hammondi and T. gondii and only a marginal one between H. hammondi and B. jellisoni.