Local Immune Responses of the Chinese Water Buffalo, Bubalus bubalis, against Schistosoma japonicum Larvae: Crucial Insights for Vaccine Design
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases·
- DOI
- 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002460
- PMID
- 24086786
- PMCID
- PMC3784499
- OpenAlex
- —
- Study type
- Journal article
- Publisher
- Public Library of Science (PLoS)
- Article type
- journal-article
- Integrity
- current
Why this research matters now
Water buffaloes are significant reservoirs driving human transmission of Asian schistosomiasis, a zoonotic disease affecting up to a million people. A transmission-blocking vaccine for buffaloes could support disease control efforts.
Structured evidence summary
Research question
The study investigated local immune responses in the skin and lungs of water buffaloes previously exposed to Schistosoma japonicum and then re-challenged, to inform vaccine design.
Study design
Previously exposed water buffaloes were re-challenged with schistosome cercariae, and immune responses were examined at major larval migration sites (skin and lungs) and draining lymph nodes. Challenge dose effects were also preliminarily assessed.
Population and setting
The study used Chinese water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis), a natural reservoir host for Schistosoma japonicum in endemic regions.
Main findings
Re-challenged buffaloes mounted a strong allergic-type inflammatory response in the skin, with eosinophil infiltration, elevated interleukin-5, and decreased interleukin-10. A predominant type-2 immune profile appeared in skin-draining lymph nodes, while a type-1 profile emerged in lung-draining lymph nodes, sequentially reflecting parasite migration. This response differed markedly from naive permissive models like mice. High cercarial doses appeared to reduce and delay the immune response compared to moderate infections.
Public-health relevance
Water buffaloes are significant reservoirs driving human transmission of Asian schistosomiasis, a zoonotic disease affecting up to a million people. A transmission-blocking vaccine for buffaloes could support disease control efforts.
Important limitations
Dose-response findings are described as preliminary. This summary relies on the supplied single-article abstract and metadata; the original paper is required for decision-grade interpretation of methods, statistical robustness, and generalizability.
GIDS interpretation
The article was classified under schistosomiasis, China, One Health, transmission dynamics, and vaccination, indicating its relevance to zoonotic disease control and vaccine development in endemic settings. These links reflect content discoverability within the evidence base and do not constitute a live public health signal.
Related GIDS surveillance
Literature context does not validate, explain, or change a surveillance signal. Exact and contextual relationships are shown separately.
Evidence relationships
This article has 8 auditable classifier relationships to diseases, places, topics, and study design.