RESUMO
Bovine tritrichomonosis, a sexually transmitted disease caused by the protozoan Tritrichomonas foetus, is characterized by producing reproductive alterations in cattle. Carbohydrates on the surface of the uterine epithelium are involved in the process of adhesion and colonization of the protozoan. The murine model has proved to be an inexpensive, practical and representative alternative to study the lesions produced in the natural host. For this work, during the first stage, 6-8 week old female BALB/c mice were inoculated with 24 different T. foetus isolates in order to classify them according to their pathogenicity. Then, seven isolates were selected and processed with lectin histochemistry to determine if the differences in pathogenicity corresponded to the changes found in the uterine carbohydrate expression pattern. In this work, we demonstrate the differences in the expression of the carbohydrate pattern between infected and uninfected mice. In addition, within the group of infected mice, differences were found in the degree of pathogenicity of the isolates, thus evidencing their biological variability.
Assuntos
Doenças dos Bovinos , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais , Doenças dos Roedores , Tritrichomonas foetus , Bovinos , Animais , Feminino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Útero/patologia , Doenças dos Bovinos/metabolismo , Carboidratos , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/metabolismo , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/patologiaRESUMO
Haemoproteid species have a wide global distribution, and they have been described in falcon species in several parts of the world. However, few studies in South America have focused on these birds. Haemoproteus spp. infections have been reported as the causative agents of serious histopathological changes, which can lead to the death of the host. Thus, this study aimed to molecularly and phylogenetically characterize Haemoproteus spp. in Caracara plancus, to characterize aspects of parasitism through clinical analysis and biochemical parameters, and to describe the histopathology of infection. To examine these aspects, 5 southern caracaras were examined clinically, and blood samples were collected. Blood smears were subsequently utilized in parasitemia calculations, PCR amplification, and serum biochemical investigations. Histological sections of the liver, kidneys, spleen, and heart were examined to check for possible histopathological changes. The birds showed clinical signs such as pallor and prostration that are consistent with Haemoproteus spp. infection. Moreover, the examination of the blood smears revealed 0.07% parasitemia in young gametocytes only. The PCR and sequencing results confirmed that the parasites belonged to Haemoproteus spp. The activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) enzymes, albumin, total serum proteins, and enzymatic urea were first described in C. plancus and serve as reference for future studies of bird species parasitized by Haemoproteus spp. Histopathology results showed signs of injury that were consistent with haemosporidian infection in the tissues of the analyzed organs. The present study is preliminary, and additional studies of Haemoproteus spp. infections in other bird species are needed to better understand the relationship between parasites and hosts, because despite the low parasitemia recorded, biochemical and histopathological changes in various organs were observed.
Assuntos
Doenças das Aves/parasitologia , Falconiformes/parasitologia , Haemosporida/genética , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/parasitologia , Alanina Transaminase/sangue , Animais , Aspartato Aminotransferases/sangue , Sequência de Bases , Doenças das Aves/metabolismo , Doenças das Aves/patologia , Proteínas Sanguíneas/análise , DNA de Protozoário/sangue , DNA de Protozoário/química , Haemosporida/classificação , Haemosporida/patogenicidade , Rim/patologia , Fígado/patologia , Miocárdio/patologia , Parasitemia/veterinária , Filogenia , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/metabolismo , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/patologia , Alinhamento de Sequência/veterinária , Baço/patologia , Ureia/sangueRESUMO
Bovine genital tritrichomonosis is caused by the protozoon Tritrichomonas foetus and leads to embryonic death and abortion. The complexity of handling bovine experimental systems has led to the development of alternative models. The infection has been reproduced in pregnant BALB/c mice. In the pathogenesis of the disease, adhesion of the protozoon to host cell surface glycoproteins is important. Labelling with soya bean agglutinin (SBA) and peanut agglutinin (PNA) lectins increases in the luminal and glandular uterine epithelium of non-pregnant infected mice. The aim of the present study was to determine whether these changes also occur in pregnant infected BALB/c mice. Female BALB/c mice were inoculated intravaginally with T. foetus and, 15 ± 3 days post infection, were paired with males overnight. Infected and control mice were sacrificed 6, 8 and 10 days later. Samples of uterus were labelled with a panel of biotinylated lectins. Infected mice showed increased binding of PNA and SBA. There was also increased binding of concanavalin (Con-A) by luminal epithelium and Ricinus communis agglutinin (RCA-1) by glandular epithelium at day 6 post coitum. These changes may be due to the production of enzymes by T. foetus, which could act to enhance adhesion and colonization and thus favour infection.
Assuntos
Lectinas de Plantas/metabolismo , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/metabolismo , Tritrichomonas/patogenicidade , Útero/metabolismo , Útero/microbiologia , Animais , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Feminino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Fenômenos Microbiológicos , GravidezRESUMO
The present study aimed to evaluate the serum proteinogram, acute phase proteins (APPs) and immunoglobulins (Igs) of dogs experimentally infected by Rangelia vitalii in the acute phases of the disease. Banked serum samples collected on days 0, 10 and 20 during a previously reported R. vitalii experimental infection were used to analyze the serum proteinogram, APPs (C-reactive protein - CRP and alpha-1-acid glycoprotein - AGP) and Igs (IgM, IgG, IgA and IgE) in the current study. Total protein and albumin level were significantly (P<0.05) decreased at day 10 PI and 20 PI in infected sera compared to the control sera. Alpha-1 globulin (day 10 PI) and gamma globulin (day 20 PI) were increased (P<0.01) in infected sera. Alpha-2 globulin (days 10 and 20 PI) and beta-2 globulin (day 10 PI) were decreased (P<0.05) in infected sera compared to control sera. Beta-1 globulin fraction did not differ statistically between sera. Serum CRP and AGP concentrations were significantly increased (P<0.05) at days 10 and 20 PI in infected sera. IgG was increased at days 10 (P<0.05) and 20 PI (P<0.01) in infected sera. Furthermore, it was also observed an increase (P<0.01) in the levels of IgM, IgA, and IgE in infected sera than control sera. We conclude that R. vitalii infection causes alterations in the proteinogram, and increases in the levels of APPs and Igs. Further studies are essentials to define the causes of these pathological changes in this disease.