Mite Burden and Immunophenotypic Response to Demodex musculi in Swiss Webster, BALB/c, C57BL/6, and NSG Mice.

Mite Burden and Immunophenotypic Response to Demodex musculi in Swiss Webster, BALB/c, C57BL/6, and NSG Mice. Comp Med. 2020 Jun 30;: Authors: Morris MG, Ricart Arbona RJ, Daniels K, Gardner R, Easthausen I, Boteler WL, Baseler GP, Pastenkos G, Perkins CL, Henderson KS, Schietinger A, Lipman NS Abstract Detection methods for Demodex musculi were historically unreliable, and testing was rarely performed because its prevalence in laboratory mice was underestimated. Although infestations are unapparent in most mouse strains, D. musculi burdens are higher and clinical signs detected in various immunodeficient strains. The parasite's influence on the immune system of immunocompetent mice is unknown. We characterized mite burden (immunocompetent and immunodeficient strains)and immunologic changes (immunocompetent strains only) in naïve Swiss Webster (SW; outbred), C57BL/6NCrl (B6; Th1 responder), BALB/cAnNCrl (BALB/c; Th2 responder) and NOD.Cg-Prkdcscid Il2rgtm1Wjl/SzJ (NSG; immunodeficient) mice after exposure to Demodex-infested NSG mice. Infested and uninfested age-matched mice of each strain (n = 5) were euthanized 14, 28, 56, and 112 d after exposure. Mite burden was determined through PCR analysis and skin histopathology; B-cell and CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell counts and activation states (CD25 and CD69) were evaluated by using flow cytometry; CBC counts were performed; and serum IgE levels were measured by ELISA. Mite burden and PCR copy ...
Source: Comparative Medicine - Category: Zoology Authors: Tags: Comp Med Source Type: research