title: Trypanosoma evansi: adenosine deaminase activity in the brain of infected rats.
abstract: The study was undertaken to evaluate changes in the activity of adenosine deaminase (ADA) in brains of rats infected by Trypanosoma evansi. Each rat was intraperitoneally infected with 10(6) trypomastigotes either suspended in fresh (group A; n = 13) and cryopreserved blood (group B; n = 13). Thirteen animals were used as control (group C). ADA activity was estimated in the cerebellum, cerebral cortex, striatum and hippocampus. No differences (P > 0.05) in ADA activity were observed in the cerebellum between infected and non-infected animals. Significant (P < 0.05) reductions in ADA activity occurred in cerebral cortex in acutely (day 4 post-infection; PI) and chronically (day 20 PI) infected rats. ADA activity was significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in the hippocampus in acutely infected rats, but significantly (P < 0.05) increased in the chronically infected rats. Significant (P < 0.05) reductions in ADA activity occurred in the striatum of chronically infected rats. Parasites could be found in peripheral blood and brain tissue through microscopic examination and PCR assay, respectively, in acutely and chronically infected rats. The reduction of ADA activity in the brain was associated with high levels of parasitemia and anemia in acute infections. Alterations in ADA activity of the brain in T. evansi-infected rats may have implications for pathogenesis of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Brazil. aleksandro_ss@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Aleksandro S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Da Silva
authors.forename: Luziane P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Bellé
authors.forename: Paula E R
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Bitencourt
authors.forename: Herakles A Garcia
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: Gustavo R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Thomé
authors.forename: Marcio M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Camila B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Marta M G
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: Maria B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Moretto
authors.forename: Cinthia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Mazzanti
authors.forename: Sonia T A
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Silvia G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Monteiro
mesh_terms: D000243:Adenosine Deaminase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000469:parasitology; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000469:parasitology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D051381:Rats; D014345:Trypanosoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D014352:Trypanosomiasis / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D006454:Hemoglobins; D000243:Adenosine Deaminase