title: Giardia duodenalis: pathological alterations in gerbils, Meriones unguiculatus, infected with different dosages of trophozoites.
abstract: To examine the infection kinetics and development of alterations in the small intestine of gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus), 72 gerbils were divided into six groups (A to F), with A serving as control and the others inoculated with increasing doses of trophozoites from Giardia duodenalis human isolate. The infection kinetics and the development of histopathological alterations were monitored by optical scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A 12-day prepatent period was observed, with intermittent elimination up to day 35 after inoculation. Statistically significant differences were found between the mean number of trophozoites recovered, per group, on the days of sacrifice, and a positive correlation between the inoculum dosage and the number of trophozoites recovered. Morphometrically, the villus:crypt ratio showed a drop in all the groups when compared with the control group. SEM revealed an increase in mucus production in the inoculated animals and the presence of trophozoite clusters at the top and base of the villi. The dosage of trophozoite inoculum does not interfere in the ability for infection to occur or in the development of histopathological alterations generated by intestinal colonization.
authors: Laboratory of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Av. Pará n(o)1720 Bloco 4C Campus Umuarama, 38400-902, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.
authors: Núbia S
authors: NS
authors: Araújo
authors: Maria J S
authors: MJ
authors: Mundim
authors: Maria A
authors: MA
authors: Gomes
authors: Rúbia M R
authors: RM
authors: Amorim
authors: João C
authors: JC
authors: Viana
authors: Rodrigo P
authors: RP
authors: Queiroz
authors: Marcos A
authors: MA
authors: Rossi
authors: Márcia C
authors: MC
authors: Cury
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005849:Gerbillinae; D016829:Giardia lamblia / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008871:Microvilli / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014774:Virulence