ZOOL352 Study Guide - Natural Killer Cell, Helminths, Leishmania
12 Dec 2014
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Document Summary
The absence of the immune response in the host results in increase insusceptibility to various infections and more severe disease manifestations. Decreased immune response can be drug-induced or parasite-induced, as well as it can be caused by malnutrition, which especially affects macrophage function. Parasite is successful in its presistance in the host if it can evade host"s immune mechanisms. Specific immune response during a primary infection develops slowly and usually cannot eliminate all of the parasites but rather attempt to control it. The response is not effective specifically due to occult infections, when few parasites remain in the body not causing damage (case of viruses, plasmodium and trypanosome), and tissue sequestration, which is common for helminthes. In case of protozoan infections, the response often results in resistance to the parasite. Resistance is rarely seen in cases of helminth infections. Sterile immunity - complete protection against secondary infection. Incomplete immunity decrease number of parasites during secondary infection.
