RESUMO
The treatment of acanthamoebiasis is a still a problem. Our previous studies showed that the application of extracts from Artemisia annua L. significantly prolonged the survival of mice infected by Acanthamoeba. This plant has medicinal properties in the treatment of human parasitic diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of A. annua on expression of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) 2 and 4 in brain of mice with Acanthamoeba infection. Mice were infected with Acanthamoeba sp. strain Ac309 (KY203908) by intranasal inoculation without and after application of A. annua extract. The administration of extract from A. annua significantly reduced the level of expression of TLR2 and modified the level of expression of TLR4. A. annua extract is a natural substance that is well tolerated in animals and may be considered as a combination therapy in treatment of acanthamoebiasis. Our study suggested that A. annua extract may be used as an alternative therapeutic tool.
Assuntos
Acanthamoeba/efeitos dos fármacos , Amebíase/tratamento farmacológico , Artemisia annua/química , Encéfalo/metabolismo , Fitoterapia , Receptores Toll-Like/efeitos dos fármacos , Amebíase/metabolismo , Animais , Encéfalo/patologia , Expressão Gênica , Imuno-Histoquímica , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Extratos Vegetais/uso terapêutico , RNA Mensageiro/metabolismo , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase em Tempo Real , Receptor 2 Toll-Like/efeitos dos fármacos , Receptor 2 Toll-Like/genética , Receptor 2 Toll-Like/metabolismo , Receptor 4 Toll-Like/efeitos dos fármacos , Receptor 4 Toll-Like/genética , Receptor 4 Toll-Like/metabolismo , Receptores Toll-Like/genética , Receptores Toll-Like/metabolismoRESUMO
A total of 564 fecal specimens from 318 horses used for recreational riding, child hippotherapy, and racing at ten commercial and government-run stables in western Poland were tested for Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts by microscopic examination of Ziehl-Neelsen stained smears, enzyme immunoassay, and combined direct immunofluorescent antibody and fluorescent in situ hybridization. Also, seven stool specimens from five personnel who had repeated contact with these horses were tested for C. parvum oocysts. Eleven horses that shed C. parvum oocysts were found in five of ten stables (50%). The prevalence of infection varied from 0% to 11.5%. The overall prevalence of equine C. parvum-associated cryptosporidiosis in the Wielkopolska region of western Poland was 3.5%. C. parvum oocysts were found only in fecal samples from mature horses, the number of oocysts was low, and infections were not associated with clinical signs. Oocysts were not found in human fecal specimens.