The effect of iron deficiency, protein deficiency and dexamethasone on infection, re-infection and treatment of Giardia muris in the mouse.
The association between nutrient deficiencies, steroid administration, anti-flagellate therapy and giardiasis was examined using the Giardia muris/mouse model. Administration of steroids to BALB/c mice resulted in persisting high levels of infection with G. muris, whereas untreated animals were able to eliminate this parasite. In addition, steroid treatment significantly reduced the efficacy of anti-flagellate therapy. Protein-deficient mice eliminated the parasite at the same rate as mice on an optimum diet and also developed strong acquired resistance to re-infection. A similar pattern was observed in iron-deficient mice, except that the number of parasites that became established during the first 2 weeks of infection was significantly reduced. Thus, there was no evidence of synergism between iron and protein deficiency and infection in this model.
D000818:Animals; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000187:drug effects; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011488:Protein Deficiency / Q000150:complications*; D051381:Rats; D012008:Recurrence; D014011:Tinidazole / Q000627:therapeutic use
D014011:Tinidazole; D003907:Dexamethasone