Taenia solium: current understanding of laboratory animal models of taeniosis

Abstract

Neurocysticercosis is a public health problem in many developing countries and is the most frequent parasitic disease of the brain. The human tapeworm carrier is the main risk factor for acquiring neurocysticercosis. Since the parasite lodges only in the human intestine, experimental models of Taenia solium taeniosis have been explored. Macaques, pigs, dogs, cats and rabbits are unsuccessful hosts even in immunodepressed status. By contrast, rodents are adequate hosts since tapeworms with mature, pregravid and, in some cases, gravid proglottids develop after infection. In this review, information that has been generated with experimental models of taeniosis due to T. solium is discussed. Initially, the use of the model for immunodiagnosis of human taeniosis and evaluation of intervention measures is summarized. Next, descriptions of tapeworms and comparison of hamsters, gerbils and other mammals as experimental models are discussed, as well as data on the humoral immune response, the inflammatory reaction and the production of cytokines associated to Th1 and Th2 responses in the intestinal mucosa. Finally, evaluation of protection induced against the development of tapeworms by recombinant T. solium calreticulin in hamsters is summarized and compared to other studies.

Immunolocalization of TSOL18 and TSOL45-1A, the successful protective peptides against porcine cysticercosis, in Taenia solium oncospheres

“…Whole immunoglobulin G (IgG) was purified with a commercial kit (Montage Antibody Purification Prosep-A, Millipore, Bedford, MA, USA), the purified IgG was adjusted at 1 mg/ml. Adult T. solium worms were obtained in the experimental hamster model [5,6] and the scolex-neck, immature and mature proglottids were separated, included in Tissue-tek (Tissue Freezing Medium, Durham, NC, USA) and frozen at -70ºC. Cysticerci, obtained from a naturally infected pig, were similarly processed.…”

Progesterone Induces Mucosal Immunity in a Rodent Model of Human Taeniosis by Taenia solium

“…Mostly based on drug and vaccine design 11, 46, 47, 51, these strategies focus on inhibiting establishment and reproduction of adult intestinal worms. Although the adult stage of most of these parasites does not cause any severe pathology, with practically asymptomatic clinical manifestations 52, it is now recognized as the main risk factor in the propagation of the disease to natural and accidental intermediate host 10, 11, 46. It is the case for human and porcine cysticercosis by T. solium 10, 46.…”

“…Although the adult stage of most of these parasites does not cause any severe pathology, with practically asymptomatic clinical manifestations 52, it is now recognized as the main risk factor in the propagation of the disease to natural and accidental intermediate host 10, 11, 46. It is the case for human and porcine cysticercosis by T. solium 10, 46. For this reason and by using the experimental taeniasis model in hamsters, our work centers to evaluate the possible protective role of progesterone upon the establishment of the T. solium adult tapeworm, since this hormone possess immunomodulatory properties and participates in pig cysticercosis 27-30.…”

Taeniosis and Cysticercosis

“…However, as Taenia carriers can also suffer cysticercosis, it is difficult to determine whether the antibodies detected could be due to adult or cysticerci (Correa and Medina 1999). Recently, T. solium taeniosis experimental models in hamsters, gerbils, and chinchillas have been established, being chinchillas the most successful experimental definitive model since tapeworms with gravid proglottids were obtained (Flisser et al 2010); new investigations on taeniosis immunology will be developed soon. By contrast, many studies have been made on cysticercosis to determine the mechanisms of immune response directed against the cysticerci of T. solium.…”