Evaluation of hepatic changes and local and systemic immune responses in goats immunized with recombinant Peroxiredoxin (Prx) and challenged with Fasciola hepatica

Protection against Fasciola hepatica in goats immunized with Peroxiredoxin (Prx) was assessed. The experimental trial consisted of three groups of seven animals; group 1 were unimmunized and uninfected, group 2 were immunized with adjuvant only and group 3 were immunized with recombinant Prx in adjuvant (immunized and infected). Immunization with Prx in Quil A adjuvant, group 3, induced a reduction in fluke burden of 33.04% when compared to adjuvant control, group 2, although this difference was not significant. The hepatic gross and microscopical morphometric study revealed lower damage in the Prx-immunized compared to group 2 (p < 0.05). Furthermore, immunohistochemical studies revealed that the Prx-immunized group exhibited reduced infiltration of CD4⁺, CD8⁺, IFN-γ⁺ and TCR⁺ (p < 0.05); and CD2⁺ and IL-4⁺ (p < 0.001) in hepatic lesions. Levels of anti-Prx serum IgG in group 3 showed a significant increase at the 4th week after challenge infection compared with group 2 (p < 0.0001). This is the first report of ruminant immunization with recombinant Prx of F. hepatica. The study shows that this vaccine significantly reduces hepatic damage and encourages further studies to improve the vaccine efficacy.