Preliminary evaluation of a thermosensitive chitosan hydrogel for Echinococcus granulosus vaccine delivery

Vet Parasitol. 2017 Mar 15:236:117-120. doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2017.02.007. Epub 2017 Feb 14.

Abstract

The EG95 vaccine is effective in protecting grazing animals from infection with Echinococcus granulosus. Six male lambs were used in the study, two were each vaccinated subcutaneously with 50μg EG95/1mg Quil-A, two animals were each vaccinated with 50μg EG95/1mg Quil-A in 1% chitosan thermolabile gel subcutaneously, and two animals served as non-vaccinated controls. Two vaccinations were given at a 7 week interval. Two vaccinations induced a significantly higher antibody titre in the chitosan group compared with the Quil-A only group. The chitosan vaccine group also had a significantly higher antibody titre compared with a positive control sera from vaccinated and challenged sheep. Incorporating the EG95/Quil-A vaccine in a thermo-responsive chitosan sol-gel stimulated, after the second injection, a high level of antibody absorbance which remained high for at least one year. This response was significantly greater than the response to vaccine without the gel.

Keywords: Antibody; Chitosan; EG95 vaccine; Echinococcus granulosus; Thermo-responsive formulation.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Helminth / administration & dosage
  • Antigens, Helminth / immunology*
  • Chitosan / administration & dosage
  • Echinococcosis / parasitology
  • Echinococcosis / prevention & control
  • Echinococcosis / veterinary*
  • Echinococcus granulosus / immunology*
  • Helminth Proteins / administration & dosage
  • Helminth Proteins / immunology*
  • Hot Temperature
  • Hydrogels / administration & dosage
  • Male
  • Quillaja Saponins / administration & dosage
  • Quillaja Saponins / immunology*
  • Sheep
  • Sheep Diseases / parasitology
  • Sheep Diseases / prevention & control*
  • Vaccination / veterinary*
  • Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Vaccines / immunology*

Substances

  • Antigens, Helminth
  • EG95 protein, Echinococcus granulosus
  • Helminth Proteins
  • Hydrogels
  • Quillaja Saponins
  • Vaccines
  • Quil A
  • Chitosan