Differences in eosinophil migration into the lungs following inhaled antigen challenge of parasite-naive guinea pigs with genetically determined differences in responsiveness to a gastrointestinal nematode parasite.

Parasite-naive guinea pigs with genetically determined differences in responsiveness to infection with the gastrointestinal nematode parasite Trichostrongylus colubriformis were sensitised to ovalbumin and later challenged by exposure to an ovalbumin aerosol. The resultant cellular migration into the lungs was assessed by histological examination of the lungs and enumeration of cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid 24 h, 72 h and 7 days later. Compared with parasite-low-responder guinea pigs, there were approximately 10 times more eosinophils in lavage fluid from parasite-high-responder animals but similar numbers of neutrophils.