The effect of the tetrathyridia of Mesocestoides corti on the livers and peripheral blood of three different strains of mice

Abstract

Three strains of male and female mice, CFLP, BALB/c and CBA/ca, were infected i.p. with the tetrathyridia of Mesocestoides corti and examined in groups of 5 at 0, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 42 days post-infection. At post-mortem the numbers of parasites both loose in the peritoneal cavity and in the liver tissue were counted, the livers weighted fresh and sections of liver stained to examine the inflammatory response, encapsulation of the tetrathyridia and for eosinophils, neutrophils, mast cells and plasma cells. BALB/c mice had significantly more parasites loose in the peritoneal cavity than CFLP and CBA/ca mice. Infected livers of all three strains were significantly heavier than control livers; the heaviest livers were those of the CFLP followed by the CBA/ca mice which also showed the greatest rate of weight increase. The tetrathyridia from the peritoneal cavities of the CBA/ca and CFLP mice were covered with a 'mucilage-like' substance. Tetrathyridia within the host capsules of the CBA/ca mice contained host cells. There was no strain difference with regard to numbers of tetrathyridia in the liver but male mice harboured significantly more parasites than females. Differences in the numbers of cell types within the liver were detected between the strains but no one strain showed any consistent pattern. There was an overall increase in total white blood counts as well as an increase in the number of eosinophils, monocytes, neutrophils and lymphocytes during the course of the infection.

In vitro culture of Mesocestoides corti metacestodes and isolation of immunomodulatory excretory–secretory products

“…As a source of M. corti tetrathyridia, we performed oral gavage of 600 M. corti tetrathyridia in ICR mice, which were chosen due to their high susceptibility and ability to withstand prolonged infection and massive worm burden without critical morbidity . From one infection with 600 tetrathyridia in ICR mice, we recovered 8000 tetrathyridia averagely by peritoneal lavage after 35 days.…”

Impact of treatment with praziquantel, silymarin and/or β-glucan on pathophysiological markers of liver damage and fibrosis in mice infected withMesocestoides vogae(Cestoda) tetrathyridia

“…M. corti) multiplies asexually in the liver and peritoneal cavity of mice (Specht & Voge, 1965) and is a suitable experimental model for slowly developing metacestode infection caused by Echinococcus multilocularis in pharmacological studies (WHO, 1984;White et al, 1988). Migration and multiplication of tetrathyridia cause severe damage to the liver parenchyma, which results in hepatocyte dysfunction, extensive fibrosis and granulomatous infiltrations (Specht & Widmer, 1972;Riley & Chernin, 1994). Fibrosis is a consequence of chronic liver diseases of any aetiology (e.g.…”