How can Trichinella escape the host immune response

This review deals with the mechanisms used by the nematode of the genus Trichinella to prevent or "down regulate" host immune response. All these mechanisms are discussed in details. There are antigen-dependent mechanisms some of which are anatomic seclusion, stage-specificity, molecular mimicry and antigen shedding and renewal. The parasite can affect also directly the host immune response by immunomodulation. This can be exerted at central level through immune suppression, polyclonal lymphocyte activation and hypereosinophilia induction as well as at peripheral level by modi- fying the host leukocyte functions, inducing the production of blocking antibodies or of immune complexes, inhibiting the complement MAC assembly.