Epidemiology of Heligmosomoides polygyrus in mice: experiments on natural transmission

Parasitology ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 93 (1) ◽  
pp. 177-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. F. G. Slater ◽  
A. E. Keymer
Keyword(s):  
Community Dynamics ◽  
Laboratory Mouse ◽  
High Protein Diet ◽  
Experimental System ◽  
Protein Diet ◽  
Acquired Immunity ◽  
Intensity Of Infection ◽  
Heligmosomoides Polygyrus ◽  
Mouse Population ◽  
Frequency Distributions

SUMMARYAn experimental system is described for the study of the community dynamics of helminth–host populations, using Heligmosomoides polygyrus in the laboratory mouse. The results of a preliminary experiment using closed populations of 50 mice revealed that coexistence of host and parasite occurs for at least 4 months in the absence of immigration, with the generation of epidemiological patterns similar to those observed in the real world. In well-nourished mice the prevalence and intensity of infection initially increased with time and then declined, probably as a result of acquired immunity. The prevalence and intensity of infection increased less rapidly among hosts fed on a low protein diet, but continued to rise over the entire duration of the experiment. This continued rise is interpreted as evidence of a negative effect of protein malnutrition on host immunocompetence. The frequency distributions of parasite numbers/host were over-dispersed in each mouse population. No density dependence in parasite fecundity was detected. Aspiculuris tetraptera was also found to be present in the mouse populations. This parasite was not transmitted between mice fed on a high protein diet, but rose to a prevalence of 80 % in protein malnourished animals. No association between the intensity of A. tetraptera and H. polygyrus could be detected in individual hosts. The results are discussed in terms of the future potential of the system for the investigation of the role of acquired immunity (and its genetic control) in the generation of epidemiological patterns.

Heligmosomoides polygyrus (Nematoda): the influence of dietary protein on the dynamics of repeated infection

1986 ◽  
Vol 229 (1254) ◽  
pp. 69-83 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Helminth Infection ◽  
Protein Diet ◽  
Acquired Immunity ◽  
Direct Proportion ◽  
Heligmosomoides Polygyrus ◽  
Larval Phase ◽  
Gastrointestinal Helminth ◽  
Repeated Infection ◽  
Ad Libitum

The influence of the protein component in the diet of the host on the population dynamics of gastrointestinal helminth infection was studied by using a mouse – H. polygyrus experimental model. Mice fed a 2% (by mass) protein diet ad libitum maintained body weight during the experiment, but gained weight steadily when fed a diet containing 8% (by mass) protein. When repeatedly infected with 5, 10, 20 or 40 larvae every 2 weeks, the mice fed the 2% (by mass) protein diet accumulated adult worms in direct proportion to exposure to the infective stages. Under similar infection régimes, mice fed an 8% (by mass) protein diet acquired a partly effective immunity to reinfection by the nematode. Acquired immunity was principally manifest as a reduction in the survival of adult worms, although a slight increase in the mortality rate and/or the development time of the tissue-dwelling larval phase was observed. Worm fecundity per head was significantly depressed in hosts fed the 8% protein diet. In conclusion, in these experiments it is demonstrated that the nutritional status of the host can influence the population dynamics of helminth infection.

The influence of dietary protein on the experimental epidemiology of Heligmosomoides polygyrus (Nematoda) in the laboratory mouse

1988 ◽  
Vol 234 (1275) ◽  
pp. 239-254 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Protein ◽  
Female Worm ◽  
Laboratory Mouse ◽  
Experimental System ◽  
Intestinal Helminth ◽  
Heligmosomoides Polygyrus ◽  
Protein Cage ◽  
Low Protein ◽  
Host Mortality ◽  
Aspiculuris Tetraptera

The influence of dietary protein on the epidemiology of an intestinal helminth infection was investigated with an experimental system that allowed transmission of the nematode Heligmosomoides polygyrus to occur naturally between laboratory mice. Mortality of mice was greatly increased in infected populations that were fed ad libitum on synthetic diets containing 2 % compared with 16% protein. Larger numbers of larval and adult H. polygyrus were found to infect mice in the low-protein cage compared with the high-protein cage. No evidence for density dependence in the fecundity of female worms was detected; on average the daily egg output per female worm was greater for parasites infecting mice in the low-protein cage. The rate at which naïve mice acquired infection was also higher in the low-protein cage. Pinworm ( Aspiculuris tetraptera ) became established in each cage, and average worm burdens were again greater in the low-protein cage. The acquisition of resistance to reinfection was not found to be an important factor influencing the survival of parasites infecting mice in either cage. The epidemiology of H. polygyrus and A. tetraptera was therefore characterized by low average worm burdens and high host survival in a well-nourished population of mice, and by a high intensity of infection and severe parasite-induced host mortality in a malnourished colony of mice. This reflects differences in the survival and fecundity of adult parasites between mice in the two cages, and suggests that malnourished mice are predisposed to acquire large numbers of several species of intestinal worm.

Predisposition of mice to Heligmosomoides polygyrus and Aspiculuris tetraptera (Nematoda)

Parasitology ◽  
1988 ◽  
Vol 97 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marilyn E. Scott
Keyword(s):  
Count Data ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Intensity Of Infection ◽  
Heligmosomoides Polygyrus ◽  
Mouse Population ◽  
Pyrantel Pamoate ◽  
Population Prevalence ◽  
Positive Correlations ◽  
Aspiculuris Tetraptera ◽  
Old Mice

SUMMARYThe purpose of this study was to determine whether predisposition to Heligmosomoides polygyrus and Aspiculuris tetraptera (Nematoda) exists within a naturally infected population of mice. A breeding mouse population was housed in a spacious arena in which endemic infections of H. polygyrus and A. tetraptera were present. H. polygyrus were over-dispersed in the mouse population. Prevalence reached 100% by the age of 3 weeks; intensity of infection increased to a peak in the 10 to 15-week-old mice, and remained high throughout life. A group of 73 mice was treated with pyrantel pamoate, and the expelled worms were counted. Mice were returned to the arena. Daily egg production was monitored 4, 8, 12 and 14 weeks after treatment. Mice were then killed and numbers of H. polygyrus and A. tetraptera were counted. Significant positive correlations were detected between numbers of H. polygyrus at first treatment and at necropsy, indicating the existence of predisposition. Similar results were obtained for A. tetraptera. Correlations improved when data were analysed by age class of mice. Analyses based on egg-count data during reinfection did not support the hypothesis of predisposition, however. A. tetraptera and H. polygyrus burdens were significantly correlated only in 3 to 4-week-old mice at the time of the treatment.

The population dynamics of acquired immunity to Heligmosomoides polygyrus in the laboratory mouse: strain, diet and exposure

Parasitology ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 103 (1) ◽  
pp. 121-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. E. Keymer ◽  
A. B. Tarlton
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Mouse Strain ◽  
Laboratory Mouse ◽  
Acquired Immunity ◽  
Heligmosomoides Polygyrus ◽  
Repeated Infection ◽  
Worm Recovery ◽  
Parasite Survival ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Larval Establishment

An experiment was designed to investigate aspects of the population dynamics of acquired immunity to Heligmosomoides polygyrus in laboratory mice. The influence of host strain (CBA or NIH), rate of exposure (5 or 40 L3/mouse/2 weeks) and diet (3 or 16% protein w/w) on the population dynamics of repeated infection and the response to a standard challenge infection were investigated. The time delay between the end of the period of repeated infection and the subsequent challenge (between 1 and 24 weeks) had no effect on worm recovery. The effects of both exposure and diet were significant and similar whether assessed on the basis of the dynamics of repeated infection or response to challenge: low rates of exposure and low dietary protein were both associated with low levels of acquired immunity. Mouse strain was the most important determinant of worm recovery after challenge, but had no significant effect on the degree to which parasite population growth was constrained by acquired immunity during repeated infection. It is suggested that both CBA and NIH mice raise immune responses which act on parasite survival, but that only NIH mice raise responses operative against larval establishment.

scholarly journals A high-protein diet increases faecal IgA concentrations in baby pigs

2008 ◽  
Vol 67 (OCE5) ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Vitari ◽  
A. Morise ◽  
M. Formal ◽  
C. Garcia ◽  
K. Mace ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Protein Diet ◽  
High Protein ◽  
Protein Diet

scholarly journals Measurement of the Intestinal pH in Mice under Various Conditions Reveals Alkalization Induced by Antibiotics

Antibiotics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 180
Author(s):  
Kouki Shimizu ◽  
Issei Seiki ◽  
Yoshiyuki Goto ◽  
Takeshi Murata
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Treatment ◽  
High Protein Diet ◽  
Intestinal Bacteria ◽  
High Protein ◽  
Protein Diet ◽  
Germ Free ◽  
Treatment Regimens ◽  
Ph Values ◽  
Specific Pathogen ◽  
The Stability

The intestinal pH can greatly influence the stability and absorption of oral drugs. Therefore, knowledge of intestinal pH is necessary to understand the conditions for drug delivery. This has previously been measured in humans and rats. However, information on intestinal pH in mice is insufficient despite these animals being used often in preclinical testing. In this study, 72 female ICR mice housed in SPF (specific pathogen-free) conditions were separated into nine groups to determine the intestinal pH under conditions that might cause pH fluctuations, including high-protein diet, ageing, proton pump inhibitor (PPI) treatment, several antibiotic treatment regimens and germ-free mice. pH was measured in samples collected from the ileum, cecum and colon, and compared to control animals. An electrode, 3 mm in diameter, enabled accurate pH measurements with a small amount of gastrointestinal content. Consequently, the pH values in the cecum and colon were increased by high-protein diet, and the pH in the ileum was decreased by PPI. Drastic alkalization was induced by antibiotics, especially in the cecum and colon. The alkalized pH values in germ-free mice suggested that the reduction in the intestinal bacteria caused by antibiotics led to alkalization. Alkalization of the intestinal pH caused by antibiotic treatment was verified in mice. We need further investigations in clinical settings to check whether the same phenomena occur in patients.

scholarly journals The Colonic Microbiome and Epithelial Transcriptome Are Altered in Rats Fed a High-Protein Diet Compared with a Normal-Protein Diet

2016 ◽  
Vol 146 (3) ◽  
pp. 474-483 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chunlong Mu ◽  
Yuxiang Yang ◽  
Zhen Luo ◽  
Leluo Guan ◽  
Weiyun Zhu
Keyword(s):  
High Protein Diet ◽  
High Protein ◽  
Protein Diet ◽  
Normal Protein Diet
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document