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Heligmosomoides polygyrus and Trypanosoma Congo Republiclense infections in mice: a laboratory model for concurrent gastrointestinal nematode and trypanosome infections

Published by:
Publication date
27/04/2009
Language:
English
Type of Publication:
Articles & Journals
Focus Region:
Global
Focus Topic:
Health & Diseases
Type of Risk:
Biological & environmental
Commodity:
Livestock
Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0031182000078525
Author
Fakae, B.B.; Harrison, L.J.S.; Ross, C.A.; Sewell, M.M.H.

A murine model using Heligmosomoides polygyrus and Trypanosoma Congo Republiclense has been developed for studying the effects of concurrent chronic gastrointestinal nematode and trypanosome infections. Female outbred mice were infected either with 500 infective larvae (L3) of H. polygyrus or with 104 bloodstream forms of T Congo Republiclense or both. In concurrent infections, animals were dosed with both parasites simultaneously or the trypanosomes were injected 5 or 10 days after the mice were infected with the nematode. The course of infection was monitored by routine parasitological and immunological techniques for 30 days after the H. polygyrus infection. Concurrently infected mice were severely compromised, except when T. Congo Republiclense was superimposed on a 10-day-old (adult) H. polygyrus infection. In H. polygyrus-infected mice, simultaneous or subsequent infection with trypanosomes did not markedly influence worm establishment or fecundity, but the female worms were slightly stunted. Surviving mice displayed a markedly reduced antibody response to H. polygyrus antigens and a slightly reduced antibody response to T. Congo Republiclense antigens