Issue |
Parasite
Volume 24, 2017
|
|
---|---|---|
Article Number | 38 | |
Number of page(s) | 14 | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/parasite/2017040 | |
Published online | 16 October 2017 |
Research Article
Pathogenesis of Plasmodium berghei ANKA infection in the gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) as an experimental model for severe malaria
Pathogenèse de l'infection par Plasmodium berghei ANKA chez la gerbille (Meriones unguiculatus) comme modèle expérimental pour le paludisme sévère
1
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai,
50603
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2
Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai,
50603
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
3
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai,
50603
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
4
Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Federal University Kashere,
Gombe State, Nigeria
5
Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, International Medical University,
57000
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
* Corresponding author: rohela@ummc.edu.my
Received:
5
July
2017
Accepted:
26
September
2017
Background: As the quest to eradicate malaria continues, there remains a need to gain further understanding of the disease, particularly with regard to pathogenesis. This is facilitated, apart from in vitro and clinical studies, mainly via in vivo mouse model studies. However, there are few studies that have used gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) as animal models. Thus, this study is aimed at characterizing the effects of Plasmodium berghei ANKA (PbA) infection in gerbils, as well as the underlying pathogenesis. Methods: Gerbils, 5-7 weeks old were infected by PbA via intraperitoneal injection of 1 × 106 (0.2 mL) infected red blood cells. Parasitemia, weight gain/loss, hemoglobin concentration, red blood cell count and body temperature changes in both control and infected groups were monitored over a duration of 13 days. RNA was extracted from the brain, spleen and whole blood to assess the immune response to PbA infection. Organs including the brain, spleen, heart, liver, kidneys and lungs were removed aseptically for histopathology. Results: Gerbils were susceptible to PbA infection, showing significant decreases in the hemoglobin concentration, RBC counts, body weights and body temperature, over the course of the infection. There were no neurological signs observed. Both pro-inflammatory (IFNγ and TNF) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokines were significantly elevated. Splenomegaly and hepatomegaly were also observed. PbA parasitized RBCs were observed in the organs, using routine light microscopy and in situ hybridization. Conclusion: Gerbils may serve as a good model for severe malaria to further understand its pathogenesis.
Résumé
Contexte : Alors que la quête de l'éradication du paludisme se poursuit, il faut encore mieux comprendre la maladie, en particulier en ce qui concerne sa pathogenèse. Ceci est facilité, outre les études in vitro et cliniques, principalement par des études de modèles souris in vivo. Cependant, il existe peu d'études qui ont utilisé des gerbilles (Meriones unguiculatus) comme modèles animaux. Ainsi, cette étude vise à caractériser les effets de l'infection par Plasmodium berghei ANKA (PbA) chez les gerbilles, ainsi que la pathogenèse sous-jacente. Méthodes : Les gerbilles, âgées de 5 à 7 semaines, ont été infectées par PbA par injection intrapéritonéale de 1 × 106 (0,2 mL) de globules rouges infectés. Le parasitisme, le gain/perte de poids, la concentration d'hémoglobine, le nombre de globules rouges et les changements de température corporelle dans les groupes témoins et infectés ont été surveillés sur une durée de 13 jours. L'ARN a été extrait du cerveau, de la rate et du sang total pour évaluer la réponse immunitaire à l'infection à PbA. Les organes, y compris le cerveau, la rate, le cœur, le foie, les reins et les poumons ont été extraits de manière aseptique pour l'histopathologie. Résultats : Les gerbilles étaient sensibles à l'infection à PbA, ce qui a entraîné une diminution significative de la concentration d'hémoglobine, du nombre de globules rouges, des poids corporels et de la température corporelle au cours de l'infection. Aucun signe neurologique n'a été observé. Les cytokines pro-inflammatoires (IFNγ et TNF) et anti-inflammatoires (IL-10) étaient significativement élevées. La splénomégalie et l'hépatomégalie ont également été observées. Des globules rouges parasités par PbA ont été observés dans les organes, en utilisant la microscopie optique de routine et une hybridation in situ. Conclusion : Les gerbilles peuvent être un bon modèle pour le paludisme sévère et sa pathogenèse.
Key words: Gerbil / Plasmodium berghei ANKA / Severe Malaria / Pathogenesis / Cytokines / In situ hybridization
© Q.O. Junaid et al., published by EDP Sciences, 2017
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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