Pathogenic action of Plasmodium gallinaceum in chickens: brain histology and nitric oxide production by blood monocyte-derived macrophages.
Plasmodium infection causes major losses to animal and human populations. The characterization of experimental malaria models is needed for a better understanding of disease mechanisms and the development of new treatment protocols. Chickens infected with Plasmodium gallinaceum constitute an adequate malaria model due to the phylogenetic proximity of this parasite to human Plasmodium as well as similarities in disease manifestation, such as cerebral malaria. The aim of the present study was to further characterize the experimental chicken model with an emphasis on clinical manifestations, cerebral histology and nitric oxide (NO) produced by macrophages. The results revealed that mortality was correlated to higher parasitemia. Parasitemia was positively correlated to temperature and negatively correlated to haematocrit value. Brain histology of infected birds revealed inflammatory infiltrates and blocked microvasculature. Macrophages derived from blood monocytes produced NO after activation, with a higher production positively correlated to parasitemia. These results characterize histological aspects of chicken brain malaria and demonstrate the activation of the innate immune system caused by the infection in chickens.
Laboratório de Neuroquímica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Av. Augusto Corrêa 1, 66075-110 Belém, PA, Brazil.
Barbarella de Matos
Bde M
Macchi
Juarez Antônio Simões
JA
Quaresma
Anderson Manoel
AM
Herculano
Maria Elena
ME
Crespo-López
Renato Augusto
RA
DaMatta
Jose Luiz Martins
JL
do Nascimento
D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000276:immunology; D001921:Brain / Q000469:parasitology; D002645:Chickens; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006400:Hematocrit / Q000662:veterinary; D006651:Histocytochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D008262:Macrophage Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*; D008289:Malaria, Avian / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*; D016779:Malaria, Cerebral / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000662:veterinary; D010964:Plasmodium gallinaceum / Q000276:immunology*; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*; D016019:Survival Analysis
D009569:Nitric Oxide