Oxidative stress and clinico-pathological alterations induced by Cryptosporidium parvum infection in a rat model

Abstract

Cryptosporidium parvum is an apicomplexan zoonotic enteric protozoa that is principally responsible for severe necrotizing enteritis in immunocompromised hosts and has been associated with diarrhoea in a wide variety of animal species. The work was carried out on 48 rats which were equally divided into four groups: GI, GII, GIII and GIV. Rats in GI worked as healthy control. Rats in GII were administered C. parvum oocysts orally, GIII received dexamethasone, whereas GIV were given dexamethasone along with C. parvum oocysts. The maximum severity of experimental infection and oocyst shedding was observed on 8th DPI in Group IV rats who exhibited depression, inappetance, poor fur condition, decreased weight gain, bloody diarrhoea and highest mortality rate. Significant increase in LPO and decrease in SOD, CAT and GSH concentrations were seen in intestine in GIV rats at 8th DPI indicating the involvement of free radical induced oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of C. parvum infection. Severe necrotizing and haemorrhagic enteritis was seen in Group IV rats, whereas Group II animals had mild enteritis. Pathological examination of intestines in Group IV animals revealed extensive necrosis, blunting, fusion and sloughing of intestinal villi. Severe lymphocytic infiltration in lamina propria and submucosa was also observed. The diarrhoea and oocyst shedding gradually subsided after 8th DPI and completely resolved in GII whereas mild enteritis was still seen in GIV animals at 12thDPI. It was inferred from the present study that C. parvum strains prevalent in Jammu were capable of causing severe enteric infection in immunosuppressed rats.

Anticryptosporidium Efficacy of Olea europaea and Ficus carica Leaves Extract in Immunocompromised Mice Associated with Biochemical Characters and Antioxidative System

“…A reduction in the villus to crypt ratio in mice infected with C. parvum oocysts was observed by some studies. In addition, the shortening and fusion of villi, numerous oocysts adhering to the intestinal mucosa in Rats infected with C. parvum oocysts orally 4 × 10 5 and received dexamethasone for 7 successive days was shown [ 2 , 7 ]. An amelioration of all histopathological changes with decreased number of oocysts was detected in tested extracts, and nitazoxanide-treated groups successfully decreased Cryptosporidium oocysts and relative regaining of the intestinal architecture, while the GV (1:3) and GVI (1:5) intestinal walls were more correct toward the normal group [ 49 ], indicating that plant oils might compete for block receptor sites on the surface of the ileum, thus leading to reduction in C. parvum colonization.…”

“…In this study, a significant decrease in the antioxidant parameters that included GSH, SOD, and CAT was observed in the plasma of the positive control group (GII) compared to the negative control group (GI). Infected immunocompromised mice had lower levels of SOD, GSH, and CAT in their livers and intestines, suggesting that free radical-induced oxidative stress played an important role in the development of C. parvum infection in mice [ 3 , 7 ]. Loss of body condition, profuse bloody diarrhea, and peak oocyst shedding severity occurred at the 10th day DPI.…”

“…Oxidative stress leads to cell damage and tissue injury due to an imbalance of oxidants and antioxidants. Oxidative stress has been reported in a rat model induced by C. parvum infection to induce tissue damage [ 6 , 7 ]. Oxidative stress has an important role in inducing the occurrence and development of most diseases in both animal and human studies.…”

The Protective Effect of Garden Cress Lepidium sativum against Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) Induced Hepatotoxicity in Mice Model

“…Lepidium sativum is able to protect DNA from the dangerous effect of free radicals and other toxins (Sahu et al, 2014). LS showed a modulatory effect on liver enzymes AST, ALT and ALP by using the seeds oil (Ranjani et al, 2019;Sood et al, 2019). The seeds extracts protect the rat liver from the harmful effect of carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 ) (Mazin et al, 2019).…”

​Therapeutic Efficacy of Ethanolic Extract of Curcuma longa and its Component, Curcumin against Experimental Cryptosporidiosis in Mice

“…Immunocompromised mice served as an excellent model to study experimental C. parvum infection (Ndao et al 2013). Also, there is a recent report from Jammu region on C. parvum infection causing severe enteric disease in immunocompromised wister rats (Sood et al 2019).…”