The effect of maternal Strongyloides venezuelensis infection on mice offspring susceptibility and immune response

Publication date: Available online 22 January 2020Source: Veterinary ParasitologyAuthor(s): Fernanda S. Costa, Vanessa Fernandes Rodrigues, Michelle Carvalho de Rezende, Jailza Lima Rodrigues, Paulo M.Z. Coelho, Deborah Negrão-CorrêaAbstractSpecies of Strongyloides infect a wide range of hosts worldwide. Due to their complex life cycle, it is hard to control the transmission of these parasites. Several species show evidence of vertical transmission; however, the impact of this transmission route on the susceptibility of the offspring has been poorly investigated. Herein, we used Strongyloides venezuelensis infected mice to evaluate transplacental and transmammary parasite transmission and their effect on the susceptibility of offspring. Swiss female mice were infected at the end of the gestation or during the breastfeeding period, and their offspring were examined for the presence of the parasite one week after infection of the mother. Our data showed that female mice infected with S. venezuelensis during gestation did not transmit the parasite to their offspring. On the other hand, all newborn mice breastfeeding in S. venezuelensis infected females got infected. To evaluate the effect of early exposure to the parasite on susceptibility and immune response of the hosts, the offspring of each experimental group (non-infected, gestation-infected, and breastfeeding-infected mothers) received anti-helminth treatment after parasite evaluation and were subcutaneously infected wit...
Source: Veterinary Parasitology - Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research