Parasitemia and humoral responses in the brain and spinal cord of pregnant rats with infection by Trypanosoma cruzi

• Autores: A Lugo de Yarbuh, S Araujo, C. Colasante, M. Maritza Alarcón, E. Moreno
• Localización: Revista Ibero-latinoamericana de parasitología, ISSN 0718-8730, Vol. 70, Nº. 1, 2011, págs. 6-15
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • The present study was carried out to detect the effects of pregnancy on the humoral immune responses in Wistar rats. The animals were injected intraperitoneally with 2x105 Trypanosoma cruzi bloodstream. At day 10 of infection the rats were mated and at day 21 of gestation the rats were sacrifi ced. Acute parasitemia levels was signifi cantly (P < 0.05) much higher in pregnant rats infected with Y strain (PY n = 10) that the observed in pregnant rats infected with ASM strain (PASM n = 10) and that in virgin infected rats with T. cruzi. The immunological evaluation by indirect immunofl uorescence confi rmed positive results by the immunoglobulins (Igs) IgA and IgM anti-T. cruzi in of brain (B) of 15 (75%) of 20 infected pregnant rats. The Igs were more frequent in B of 8 rats (80%) PASM and in 7 pregnant rats (70%) PY. In spinal cord (SC) Igs of isotopes IgA and IgM anti- T. cruzi were observed in 9 (45%) of 20 infected pregnant rats and more frequent in sacra region of the SC of 5 pregnant rats (50%) PASM and in 4 pregnant rats (40%) PY. Histological analysis with Hematoxilin and Eosin and with Peroxidase anti Peroxidase reaction in the B, SC, heart and skeletal muscle of pregnant rats, showed mononuclear cells infi ltrated, amastigotes nests and T. cruzi antigens. The infl ammatory lesions and destruction of the cardiac and skeletal muscle fi ber confi rmed acute chagasic myocarditis and myositis in the pregnant rats. In nervous tissues of virgin rats infected with T. cruzi strains was not detected specifi c Igs anti-T. cruzi, nor parasitism, nor histological alterations. These results are indicative that the pregnancy increased susceptibility to acquired infection in the central nervous system of the rats by modifi cation of the humoral immune responses. The development of IgA and IgM specifi c were marker of acute infection by T. cruzi in the B and SC of pregnant rats.