Differences in the immune response of Santa Inês lambs to Haemonchus contortus infection

• Grant number: 25/13075-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2025
• End date: August 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Ana Claudia Alexandre de Albuquerque
• Grantee: Guilherme Fernandes Dias Canalli
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Sheep farming plays an important role in the Brazilian scenario, but it faces clear barriers caused by gastrointestinal parasites, specifically those caused by the helminth Haemonchus contortus. This organism is widely distributed in tropical regions, typical of the Brazilian agricultural scenario, and compromises the health of sheep, resulting in an impact on productivity and quality in the sector. The study aims to characterize the main differences and similarities in the immune response of Santa Inês lambs artificially infected with Haemonchus contortus through immunohistochemical characterization of the local immune response. Through these immunohistochemical analyses of the abomasal tissues of Santa Inês lambs, we seek to characterize the cellular profiles involved in the local immune response, comparing infected and uninfected animals to serve as a basis for identifying genetic biomarkers for selection of resistant animals.