Assemblages A and B of Giardia duodenalis reduce enteric glial cells in the small intestine in mice.

Infection of Giardia duodenalis is one of the most common human parasitic disease worldwide. This infection may be related to important changes in the enteric nervous system. The objective of this study was to evaluate the myenteric and submucosal plexuses, the intestinal muscle layer, and gastrointestinal transit in mice infected with assemblages A and B of G. duodenalis. Swiss albino mice (Mus musculus) were infected with assemblages A and B of G. duodenalis for 15 days. Gastrointestinal transit time was evaluated before euthanasia. Duodenum and jejunum were removed for histological and immunohistochemical analyses. It was observed a reduction in the enteric glial cell count and a decrease in the ratio of enteric glial cells to neurons. The number of neurons did not change, but morphological changes were observed in the duodenum and jejunum in both plexuses, including an increase in the nuclear area and a reduction of cell bodies in the myenteric plexus and a decrease in the nuclear area in the submucosal plexus. A reduction of the thickness of the muscle layer was observed in the duodenum, with no significant differences in the gastrointestinal transit times. Assemblages A and B of G. duodenalis decrease the number of enteric glial cells in the myenteric and submucosal plexuses, decrease the thickness of the muscle layer, and change the morphology of neurons. Graphical abstract ᅟ.

Leukocyte Behavior in Mesenteric Microcirculation upon Experimental By Leishmania Spp. in BALB/c Mice.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to determine the cellular recruitment (leukocyte rolling and adhesion) by which the Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis, L. (Leishmania) amazonensis, and L. (Leishmania) major species in the mesenteric microcirculation of BALB/c mice. METHODS: Five experimental groups were considered: group 1 (L. braziliensis); group 2 (L. amazonensis); group 3 (L. major); group 4 (control group with PBS); group 5 (negative control group), analyzed 3, 6, 12, and 24 h after parasite inoculation. RESULTS: Infections by the different Leishmania species caused an increase in the number of rolling leukocytes: L. braziliensis a peak at 6 h; L. amazonensis and L. major a peak at 3 h. The Leishmania infections induced leukocyte adhesion: L. major and L. amazonensis showed an increase after 3 and 6 h, respectively. CONCLUSION: The kinetics of cellular recruitment in Leishmania infections, leading to infection susceptibility or resistance, indicates that distinct mechanisms regulate the initial response to Leishmania infection and determine its course.

Comparative study of effects of assemblages AII and BIV of Giardia duodenalis on mucosa and microbiota of the small intestine in mice.

AIMS: Giardiasis is one of the major causes of diarrhea worldwide and its symptoms vary in intensity, which can be attributed to different parasite assemblages. The goal of the present study was to compare the effects of infection caused by assemblages AII and BIV ofGiardia duodenalis on the response of the small intestine, microbiota, and behavioral parameters in mice. MAIN METHODS: Swiss mice were infected with assemblages AII and BIV of G. duodenalis for 15 days. Leucometry, pain, intestinal microbiota and histological parameters of the duodenum and jejunum were evaluated in the experimental groups. KEY FINDINGS: Both assemblages modified the composition of the intestinal microbiota. Infection with assemblage AII promoted leukocytosis, reflected by increasing number of polymorphonuclear cells, intraepithelial lymphocytes and pain-related behavior, indicating that this was the more aggressive assemblage with regard to its effects on the intestinal mucosa and duodenum. SIGNIFICANCE: The specific assemblage of the parasite is an important parameter that affects symptomatology in the host.