Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rdxmf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T07:07:30.689Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Endotoxins and the pathogenesis of Trypanosoma brucei brucei infection in mice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

R. A. Alafiatayo ,
B. Crawley ,
B. A. Oppenheim  and
V. W. Pentreath
R. A. Alafiatayo
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Salford, Salford M5 4WT
B. Crawley
Affiliation:
Department of Bacteriology, University Hospital of South Manchester, Manchester M20 8LR
B. A. Oppenheim
Affiliation:
Department of Bacteriology, University Hospital of South Manchester, Manchester M20 8LR
V. W. Pentreath
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Salford, Salford M5 4WT
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

The involvement of endotoxins in Trypanosoma brucei brucei infection in CD-1 mice was investigated by the Limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL) test. At 7 days post-infection mean serum endotoxin level was elevated by 2·5 times (36·4 pg/ml cf. control 14·25 pg/ml, P < 0·001) and a similar increase was maintained throughout the infection (survival 28–35 days). Purified disrupted parasites contained significant endotoxin activity (mean value 280 pg/mg protein). The mouse infections were also associated with progressive Gram-negative bacteraemia (present in 4 Out of 5 infected animals by day 28 p.i.). The increased endotoxin levels may be due to parasite products, the products of intercurrent bacterial infections, other unidentified sources (e.g. from the gut), or a combination of these. It is concluded that the raised endotoxins may be important contributive factors in the pathogenesis of experimental murine trypanosomiasis.

Keywords

Trypanosoma brucei bruceimiceendotoxinsLAL testbacteraemia.
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 107 , Issue 1 , July 1993 , pp. 49 - 53
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Bambirra, E. A., Da Cruz, M. Q., Campos, D. S. & Lima, A. D. (1984). Some characteristics of the hyperreactivity to bacterial lipopolysaccharide induced in mice by Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz 79, 433–7.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ban, E., Haour, F. & Lenstra, R. (1992). Brain interleukin I gene expression induced by peripheral lipolysaccharide administration. Cytokine 4, 48–54.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bancroft, G. J. & Askonas, B. A. (1985). Immunobiology of African trypanosomiasis in laboratory rodents. In Immunology and Pathogenesis of Trypanosomiasis (ed. Tizard, I.) pp. 75–101. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press.Google Scholar
Clark, I. A. (1982). Correlation between susceptibility to malaria and babesia parasites and to endotoxicity. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 76, 4–7.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Clayton, C. E., Sacks, D. L., Ogilvie, B. M. & Askonas, B. A. (1979). Membrane fractions of trypanosomes mimic the immunosuppressive and mitogenic effects of living parasites on the host. Parasite Immunology 1, 241–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fayer, R. (1988). Influence of parasitism on growth of cattle possibly mediated through tumor necrosis factor. In Biomechanisms Regulating Growth and Development (ed. Steffens, G. L.), pp. 437–447. Hingham, Massachussets: Kluwer Academic Publishers.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Felton, S. C., Prior, R. B., Spagna, V. A. & Kreier, J. P. (1980). Evaluation of Plasmodium berghei for endotoxin by the Limulus lysate assay. Journal of Parasitology 66, 846–7.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Friedman, H., Newton, C., Widen, R., Klein, T. S. & Spitzer, J. A. (1992). Continuous endotoxin perfusion suppresses rat spleen cell production of cytokines. Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine 199, 360–4.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goodwin, L. G. (1970). The pathology of African trypanosomiasis. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 64, 797–812.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Greenwood, B. M. (1974). Possible role of a β-cell mitogen in hypergammaglobulinaemia in malaria and trypanosomiasis. Lancet March 16, 435–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jakobsen, P. H., Baek, L. & Jepsen, S. (1988). Demonstration of soluble Plasmodium falciparum antigens reactive with Limulus amoebocyte lysate and polymyxin B. Parasite Immunology 10, 593–606.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jennings, F. W. & Gray, G. D. (1983). Relapsed parasitaemia following chemotherapy of chronic Trypanosoma brucei infections in mice and its relation to cerebral trypanosomes. Contributions to Microbiology and Immunology 7, 147–54.Google ScholarPubMed
Lanham, S. M. (1968). Separation of trypanosomes from the blood of infected rats and mice by anion- exchangers. Nature, London 218, 1273–4.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lanham, S. M. & Godfrey, D. G. (1970). Isolation of salivarian trypanosomes from man and other mammals using DEAE cellulose. Experimental Parasitology 28, 521–34.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Miller, M. A. & Hjelle, J. T. (1990). Endotoxins and their clinical significance – an overview. In Clinical Applications of the Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate Test (ed. Prior, R. B.), pp. 1–14. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press.Google Scholar
Mott, F. W. (1907). Histological observations on changes in the nervous system in trypanosome infections, especially sleeping sickness and dourine, and their relation to syphilitic lesions of the nervous system. Archives of Neurology and Psychiatry 3, 581–646.Google Scholar
Parant, M., Le Contel, C., Parant, F. & Chedid, L. (1991). Influence of endogenous glucocorticoid on endotoxin-induced production of circulating TNF-α. Lymphokine and Cytokine Research 10, 265–71.Google ScholarPubMed
Redinbaugh, M. G. & Campbell, W. H. (1985). Adaptation of the dye binding protein assay to microtitre plates. Analytical Biochemistry 147, 144–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schwab, J. H. (1975). Suppression of the immune response by microorganisms. Bacteriological Reviews 39, 121–43.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tizard, I., Nielsen, K. H., Seed, J. R. & Hall, J. E. (1978). Biologically active products from African trypanosomes. Microbiological Reviews 42, 661–81.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed