Transient < i > Ascaris suum < /i > larval migration induces intractable chronic pulmonary disease and anemia in mice

by Yifan Wu, Evan Li, Morgan Knight, Grace Adeniyi-Ipadeola, Li-zhen Song, Alan R. Burns, Ana Clara Gazzinelli-Guimaraes, Ricardo Fujiwara, Maria Elena Bottazzi, Jill E. Weatherhead Ascariasis is one of the most common infections in the world and associated with significant global morbidity.Ascaris larval migration through the host ’s lungs is essential for larval development but leads to an exaggerated type-2 host immune response manifesting clinically as acute allergic airway disease. However, whetherAscaris larval migration can subsequently lead to chronic lung diseases remains unknown. Here, we demonstrate that a single episode ofAscaris larval migration through lungs induces a chronic pulmonary syndrome of type-2 inflammatory pathology and emphysema accompanied by pulmonary hemorrhage and chronic anemia in a mouse model. Our results reveal that a single episode ofAscaris larval migration through the host lungs leads to permanent lung damage with systemic effects. Remote episodes of ascariasis may drive non-communicable lung diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and chronic anemia in parasite endemic regions.
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Source Type: research