Assessment of immune activation in mice before and after eradication of mite infestation.
Mite infestation of mice remains a persistent problem for many institutions, leading to numerous health problems and creating unknown and unwanted variables for research. In this study, mice with mite infestation demonstrated significantly higher levels of inflammatory cytokines, both at draining lymph nodes (axillary) and systemically, as compared with mice without mites. In addition, histologic evaluation revealed significant inflammation in mite-infested mice. Inflammatory changes were still present in the skin of mice at 6 to 8 wk after treatment, despite absence of detectable infestation at that time. Because these significant and lasting local and systemic changes have the potential to alter research findings, eradication of mites infestations should be an important goal for all institutions.
Johnston
Nancy A
NA
Department of Internal Medicine, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois; Division of Laboratory Animal Medicine, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois. njohnston@siumed.edu
Trammell
Rita A
RA
Ball-Kell
Susan
S
Verhulst
Steven
S
Toth
Linda A
LA
D000818:Animals; D018925:Chemokines / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006799:Housing, Animal; D007107:Immune System / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D007306:Insecticides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008924:Mite Infestations / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008925:Mites / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D012867:Skin / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism
D018925:Chemokines; D016207:Cytokines; D007306:Insecticides