Studies on Dipetalonema viteae (Filarioidea). 4. Passive transfer of immunity to circulating microfilariae by spleen cells.

Passive transfer experiments provided clear evidence for a role of spleen cells in the immunity of hamsters against Dipetalonema viteae microfilariae. 106 or more spleen cells from postpatent (amicrofilaraemic) hamsters suppressed incipient microfilaraemia in syngeneic recipients when transferred at either week 2 or week 6 of a primary infection. Spleen cells from microfilaraemic donors (week 15-16 post infection) were also capable of transferring immunity against microfilariae. The spleen cell transfer never affected the survival of adult worms. After transfer of spleen cells from either patent or postpatent hamsters, antibodies to the cuticle of microfilariae could be found in the sera of recipients as early as week 8 of a primary infection.