title: Influence of Echinococcus multilocularis infection on reproduction and cellular immune response of mice.
abstract: The influence of secondary Echinococcus multilocularis infection on reproduction and cellular immune response of mice was studied in BALB/c mice infected with 2000 E. multilocularis protoscoleces. Of the total infected mothers, 11.7% did not give birth and 10% of uninfected ones did not deliver. Both, healthy and infected mothers, produced on average 6-7 offspring per litter. The changes in production of seral IFN-gamma, TNF and IL-10 did not significantly influence the course of gravidity. On the other hand, more intensive metacestode growth was observed after the delivery. This study confirmed the ability of host organism to adapt to severe damage caused by E. multilocularis, not only in normal conditions, but also during pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Parasitological Institute of SAS, Hlinkova, Kosice, Slovak Republic. antolova@saske.sk
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Antolová
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Reiterová
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D048210:Echinococcus multilocularis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D005260:Female; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D008098:Litter Size; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D012098:Reproduction; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007371:Interferon-gamma