Specific cross-immunity between Hymenolepis nana and H. diminuta: effects of transfer of immunity with homologous and heterologous immune mesenteric lymph node cells in BALB/c mice.

In BALB/c mice, Hymenolepis nana and H. diminuta stimulate a strong response. Accelerated expulsion of adult worms, as well as protection against larvae, occurred anamnestically when homologous or heterologous mesenteric lymph node cells from immune mice were transferred before challenge. The results further support the hypothesis that worm expulsion is a thymus dependent phenomenon. The extensive cross reactivity found is discussed in relation to the distinctive characteristics of the two worms. These results strongly suggest that there are antigenic similarities between the two parasites and that the accelerated expulsion of heterologous challenge infections is the result of a specific response to shared antigens.