Effects of aldactazide and DOCA injections on saline preference in gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus)

Abstract Background The Mongolian jird (Meriones unguiculatus) has long been recognized as a permissive host for the filarial parasite Brugia malayi; however, it is nonpermissive to another filarial parasite, canine heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis). By elucidating differences in the early response to infection, we sought to identify mechanisms involved in the species-specific clearance of these parasites. We hypothesized that the early clearance of D. immitis in intraperitoneal infection of the jird is immune mediated and parasite species dependent. Methods Jird peritoneal exudate cells (PECs) were isolated and their attachment to parasite larvae assessed in vitro under various conditions: D. immitis and B. malayi cultured separately, co-culture of both parasites, incubation before addition of cells, culture of heat-killed parasites, and culture with PECs isolated from jirds with mature B. malayi infection. The cells attaching to larvae were identified by immunohistochemistry. Results In vitro cell attachment to live D. immitis was high (mean = 99.6%) while much lower for B. malayi (mean = 5.56%). This species-specific attachment was also observed when both filarial species were co-cultured, with no significant change from controls (U(9, 14) = 58.5, p = 0.999). When we replicated these experiments with PECs derived from jirds subcutaneously infected with B. malayi, the results were similar (99.4% and 4.72% of D. immitis and B. malayi, respectively, exhibited cell attachment). Heat-killing the parasites significantly reduced cell attachment to D. immitis (mean = 71.9%; U(11, 14) = 7.5, p < 0.001) while increasing attachment to B. malayi (mean = 16.7%; U(9, 15) = 20, p = 0.002). Cell attachment to both species was reduced when larvae were allowed a 24-h pre-incubation period prior to the addition of cells. The attaching cells were identified as macrophages by immunohistochemistry. Conclusions These results suggest a strongly species-dependent response from which B. malayi could not confer protection by proxy in co-culture. The changes in cell attachment following heat-killing and pre-incubation suggest a role for excretory/secretory products in host immune evasion and/or antigenicity. The nature of this attachment is the subject of ongoing study and may provide insight into filarial host specificity.

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Studies on Trichostrongylus axei (Cobbold, 1879). VIII. Some Quantitative Aspects of Experimental Infection of the Mongolian Gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus)

Journal of Parasitology ◽

10.2307/3275769 ◽

1963 ◽

Vol 49 (4) ◽

pp. 617 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Stanley E. Leland

Keyword(s):

Experimental Infection ◽

Mongolian Gerbil ◽

Meriones Unguiculatus

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The Role of Individual Recognition By Odors in the Social Interactions of the Mongolian Gerbil (Meriones Unguiculatus)

Behaviour ◽

10.1163/156853976x00262 ◽

1976 ◽

Vol 58 (1-2) ◽

pp. 117-129 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Zuleyma Tang Halpin

Keyword(s):

Social Interactions ◽

Mongolian Gerbil ◽

Individual Recognition ◽

Meriones Unguiculatus ◽

The Social

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Effects of diethylcarbamazine and ivermectin treatment onBrugia malayigene expression in infected gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus)

Parasitology Open ◽

10.1017/pao.2019.1 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mary J. Maclean ◽

W. Walter Lorenz ◽

Michael T. Dzimianski ◽

Christopher Anna ◽

Andrew R. Moorhead ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Drug Action ◽

Meriones Unguiculatus ◽

Current Control ◽

Direct Result ◽

Ivermectin Treatment ◽

Treatment Groups ◽

Parasite Survival ◽

Insight Into

AbstractLymphatic filariasis (LF) threatens nearly 20% of the world's population and has handicapped one-third of the 120 million people currently infected. Current control and elimination programs for LF rely on mass drug administration of albendazole plus diethylcarbamazine (DEC) or ivermectin. Only the mechanism of action of albendazole is well understood. To gain a better insight into antifilarial drug actionin vivo, we treated gerbils harbouring patentBrugia malayiinfections with 6 mg kg−1DEC, 0.15 mg kg−1ivermectin or 1 mg kg−1albendazole. Treatments had no effect on the numbers of worms present in the peritoneal cavity of treated animals, so effects on gene expression were a direct result of the drug and not complicated by dying parasites. Adults and microfilariae were collected 1 and 7 days post-treatment and RNA isolated for transcriptomic analysis. The experiment was repeated three times. Ivermectin treatment produced the most differentially expressed genes (DEGs), 113. DEC treatment yielded 61 DEGs. Albendazole treatment resulted in little change in gene expression, with only 6 genes affected. In total, nearly 200 DEGs were identified with little overlap between treatment groups, suggesting that these drugs may interfere in different ways with processes important for parasite survival, development, and reproduction.

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Bioavailability of β-carotene (βC) from purple carrots is the same as typical orange carrots while high-βC carrots increase βC stores in Mongolian gerbils(Meriones unguiculatus)

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1079/bjn20061562 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 96 (2) ◽

pp. 258-267 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Mandy Porter Dosti ◽

Jordan P. Mills ◽

Philipp W. Simon ◽

Sherry A. Tanumihardjo

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Vitamin A ◽

Phenolic Acids ◽

Health Problem ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Meriones Unguiculatus ◽

Mongolian Gerbils ◽

Alternative Source ◽

Β Carotene

Vitamin A (VA) deficiency is a worldwide public health problem. Biofortifying existing sources of β-carotene (βC) and increasing dietary βC could help combat the issue. Two studies were performed to investigate the relative βC bioavailability of a βC supplement to purple, high-βC orange, and typical orange carrots using Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus). In study 1, which used a traditional bioavailability design, gerbils (n32) received a diet containing orange, purple, or white carrot powder, or white carrot powder +a βC supplement. In study 2, which included βC-biofortified carrots, gerbils (n 39) received orange, high-βC orange, purple, or white carrot powder in their diet. Both studies lasted 21 d and the gerbils were killed to determine the effect of carrot type or supplement on serum and liver βC, α-carotene, and VA concentrations. Liver stores of βC or VA in the gerbils did not differ between orange and purple carrot diets when equal amounts of βC from each of the diets were consumed (P>0·05). Both the orange and purple carrot diet resulted in higher liver VA compared with the supplement (P<0·05). High-βC carrots resulted in more than 2-fold higher βC and 1·1 times greater VA liver stores compared with typical orange carrots (P<0·05). These results suggest that high-βC carrots may be an alternative source of VA to typical carrots in areas of VA deficiency. Second, phenolics including anthocyanins and phenolic acids in purple carrot do not interfere with the bioavailability of βC from purple carrots.

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