UV-B exposure impairs resistance to infection by Trichinella spiralis.
To assess the possibility that increases in UV-B exposure on the earth's surface could lead to impaired resistance to several infectious diseases, we studied the effect of UV-B exposure on resistance against Trichinella spiralis. Wistar rats, orally infected with T. spiralis larvae, were exposed to suberythemal doses of UV-B radiation daily for 5 days at different time periods before or after infection. A significant increase in the number of Trichinella larvae was found in the carcasses of rats irradiated with UV-B between 6 and 10 days after infection. These data indicate that exposure to UV-B radiation suppresses the resistance to a parasitic infection. We suggested that UV-B radiation especially suppresses cellular immune responses against these worms because specific IgM, IgG, and IgE titers were not significantly altered by UV-B exposure. These data indicate that UV-B irradiation plays a role in the course of infection with T. spiralis, which suggests that increases of UV-B exposure might also lead to problems with other infectious diseases and might affect vaccination because of the interaction of UV-B irradiation with memory T-cells.
National Institute for Public Health and Environmental Protection, Bilthoven.
W
W
Goettsch
J
J
Garssen
A
A
Deijns
F R
FR
de Gruijl
H
H
van Loveren
D000818:Animals; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D007107:Immune System / Q000528:radiation effects*; D007814:Larva; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017160:Trichinella spiralis; D014235:Trichinellosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays