The effect of cadmium on the immune behaviour of guinea pigs with experimental ascariasis

Abstract

The subchronic effect of cadmium on selected immunological parameters was studied in guinea pigs with experimental ascariasis. Cadmium chloride given orally for 28 days caused a considerable suppression of T- and B- cells in the lymphoid organs of intoxicated animals, of the metabolic activity of their peritoneal macrophages and a moderate decline in the level of complement CH50 and AH50 from day 1 to day 28 of the experiment, in comparison with the initial value. After a subsequent infection of the subchronically intoxicated guinea pigs the values for both the cell populations and the macrophage metabolic activity remained considerably suppressed, compared with infected control animals. The phagocytic and metabolic activity of macrophages as well as the CH50 and AH50 level, however, increased conspicuously for a short time after application of heavy metal and after infection but it did not reach the level of the infected group. The level of specific circulating antibodies was not affected by intoxication. Compared with the controls, the mean intensity of infection with Ascaris larvae migrating in the lungs of intoxicated animals increased by 20%. The results have established the negative effect of cadmium on the immunological parameters of the cellular immunity and humoral immunity studied and the impairment of the organism's response to the antigenic stimulus after an A. suum infection.

Exposure of leopard frogs to a pesticide mixture affects life history characteristics of the lungworm Rhabdias ranae

“…Moreover, this effect was found to persist up to 3 weeks after removal of pesticides in the 10-exposed frogs (Christin et al, in press). Similarly, depression of lymphocyte proliferation was detected in guinea pigs exposed to heavy metal toxicants, resulting in an enhanced abundance of migrating Ascaris suum in the lungs (Boroskova et al 1995;Boroskova and Dvoroznakova 1997;Soltys et al 1997). It is well established that lymphocytes play a determining role in the generation of an effective immune response against helminth parasites (Riffkin et al 1996;Schallig 2000).…”

Toxicogenomic analysis of Caenorhabditis elegans reveals novel genes and pathways involved in the resistance to cadmium toxicity

“…The expression of eight C. elegans C-type lectin genes were affected by cadmium. There are several reports describing a relationship between cadmium exposure and changes in the immune response [ 40 , 41 ]. The immune response genes may be affected by cadmium due to the modulation of shared signal transduction pathways, such as the MAPK signaling cascade [ 27 , 42 - 44 ].…”

Gastrointestinal nematodes, trace elements, and immunity

“…Given both evidence for copper's antiparasitic activity [138] and evidence that copper increases host immunity [139], it is not surprising that results have shown that pure copper salts reduce GI nematode worm burdens in chickens infected with Ascaridia galli [38]; in dairy goats infected with Haemonchus but not T. circumcincta, Trichostrongylus colubriformis, or Oesophagostomum venulosum [140]; in guinea pigs infected with Ascaris [141]; and in lambs [142,143] with ostertagiasis. It has also been shown that basic salts were more effective than neutral salts against A. galli and the authors suggested that this occurred because resorption of basic salts by the host is lower compared with neutral salts and this prolongs their antiparasitic action on intestinal nematodes [144À146].…”

“…In another set of studies, concurrent administration of copper with the heavy metal mercury to Ascaris-infected guinea pigs failed to produce the same immunosuppression as occurred when mercury chloride was given alone; these authors had suggested that cupric sulphate would have a protective effect preventing the decline in antibody production. However, the concurrent administration of the metal elements provided no additional protective effect of copper against the negative effect of mercury on macrophages and PHM leucocytes [141,147,148], showing that both elements can become toxic at high levels and that the known protective effect of copper may be exceeded.…”