Experimental immunity to Microsporum canis and cross reactions with other dermatophytes of veterinary importance

• Published in: Journal of medical and veterinary mycology Vol. 33; no. 2; p. 93
• Main Authors: Pier, A C, Hodges, A B, Lauze, J M, Raisbeck, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-03-1995
• Subjects: Animals; Antigens, Fungal - immunology; Arthrodermataceae - immunology; Cross Reactions; Dermatomycoses - immunology; Dermatomycoses - pathology; Dermatomycoses - prevention & control; Fungal Vaccines - administration & dosage; Fungal Vaccines - immunology; Guinea Pigs; Microsporum - immunology; Rabbits; Skin Tests
• ISSN: 0268-1218

An inactivated, broad-spectrum dermatophyte vaccine was used to produce an active immunity in guinea-pigs against Microsporum canis. None of the vaccinates developed infection from a contact exposure challenge that produced clinical infections in 70% of the unvaccinated controls. Infection with M. canis induced antibody titres (ELISA) and delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity (DCH) reactions to itself as well as cross-reacting titres to Trichophyton equinum and T. mentagrophytes and DCH reactions to T. mentagrophytes; however vaccinated animals developed significantly higher antibody titres and DCH responses to all of these antigens than did non-vaccinated animals which had been infected or exposed. Rabbits hyperimmunized with culture filtrate antigens to single dermatophyte agents (M. canis, M. gypseum, T. equinum, and T. mentagrophytes) developed positive inter-species and inter-generic DCH cross-reactions to a battery of six skin test antigens (M. canis, M. gypseum, M. equinum, T. equinum, T. mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes and T. verrucosum). Guinea-pigs vaccinated with a T. equinum vaccine had increased resistance to M. canis infection than did non-vaccinated controls. These findings support clinical observations which suggest establishment of a broad-based immunity in animals following infection with a single dermatophyte.