Reactions of cells of nasal and sinusoidal mucosa of goats and sheep naturally infected by Oestrus ovis Linné 1758 (Diptera: Oestridae)]

OEstrosis is a very common myiasis of sheep and goats in mediterranean and tropical countries. Goats are suitable hosts for OEstrus ovis but the parasitic burden remain lower than in sheep. Cellular responses (mucous and serous mast cells, eosinophis and globules leucocytes) were measured in 30 infected and 30 non infected sheep and in 23 infected and 24 non infected goats. The presence of OEstrus ovis larvae led to an important inflammatory response in sheep and in goats as well. Furthermore, the intensity of the cellular response correlated with the larva burden, specially with globules leucocytes and eosinophils. Nevertheless, huge differences occurred between sheep and goats responses even in similar larval burden range. Infected sheep showed larger counts of mucous mast cells than goats, the differences were smaller in serous mast cells and eosinophils and no difference was detected in globules leucocytes (intraepithelial mast cells) counts between the two hosts species. These results were compared with those obtained in gastro-intestinal strongyles infections.