Whip- and pinworm infections elicit contrasting effector and distinct regulatory responses in wild house mice

Infections with high doses of intestinal nematodes result in protective immunity based on robust type 2 responses in most mouse lines under laboratory conditions. Here, we report on cellular responses of wild house mice from northern Germany. We detected robust Th1 responses in wild house mice naturally infected with the whipworm Trichuris muris. In contrast, mice infected with pinworms (Syphacia, Aspiculuris) reported type-2 activity by elevated IgG1 levels and eosinophil counts, but also harbored high frequencies of Foxp3+ regulatory T cells, suggesting that natural whip- and pinworm infections induce distinct immunoregulatory as well as effector profiles. (c) 2022 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Australian Society for Parasitology.

Automated summary

This study reports on cellular responses of wild house mice from northern Germany. Wild house mice naturally infected with the whipworm Trichuris muris showed robust Th1 responses, while mice infected with pinworms exhibited type-2 activity, elevated IgG1 levels, and high frequencies of Foxp3+ regulatory T cells, suggesting distinct immune responses induced by natural whip- and pinworm infections.