Immune response in mice infected by Encephalitozoon cuniculi and suppressed by dexamethasone.
Several indicators of immune response were observed in immunocompetent mice of the ICR line and those suppressed by dexamethasone upon their experimental infection with the microsporidia of Encephalitozoon cuniculi. The mice were infected by one-shot intraperitoneal administration of 5 x 10(7) pathogenic spores. On Days 7, 14, 28 and 42 after infection, peripheral blood leukocyte phagocytic activity was determined and compared, including phagocytic index and the blastogenic response in spleen cells to mitogenic activation by concanavalin A and phytohaemagglutinin. The results point to the fact that E. cuniculi itself can cause a significant decrease in phagocytic activity of phagocytic leukocytes in the early stages of infection as well as a remarkable decrease in the proliferative response of spleen cells to T-cellular mitogens.
Valencáková
Alexandra
A
University of Veterinary Medicine, Komenského 73, 041 81 Kosice, Slovak Republic. valencakova@uvm.sk
Halánová
Monika
M
Bálent
P
P
Dvoroznáková
Emilia
E
Jamborová
Erika
E
Lesník
F
F
Neuschl
J
J
Páleník
L'
L
Cisláková
Lýdia
L
D000818:Animals; D000830:Animals, Laboratory; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D003907:Dexamethasone; D009670:Encephalitozoon cuniculi / Q000276:immunology*; D016890:Encephalitozoonosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D016867:Immunocompromised Host / Q000276:immunology*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000276:immunology*
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D003907:Dexamethasone