title: Effects of age and splenectomy on heavy infection of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in rats.
abstract: This study was designed to determine the effects of age and the role of spleen in rats with heavy Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection. Young rats (8 weeks) infected with 100 larvae were found to have significantly higher worm recovery rate (75.0±6.6%) than the adult (6 months) (55.7±1.5%) and the aging ones (13 months) (57.6±4.0%). Moreover, the recovery rate in adult rats with 400 larvae (33.6±10.67%) was significantly lower than those with 100 larvae (55.7±1.53%) or 200 larvae (53.3±5.4%). The splenectomized young rats with 100 larvae had a significantly higher recovery rate (84.3±2.5%) than the intact (75.0±6.6%) or sham splenectomized ones (74.4±3.8%). Although titers of antibody against A. cantonensis increased with time, those against young adults were significantly higher before week 4 whereas those against adult worms become significantly higher since week 4. Titers in the splenectomized rats were also found to be significantly lower than those in the intact ones. These finding indicate that young rats are more susceptible to A. cantonensis. Crowding effect may occur in rats with heavy infections. The effects of splenectomy on the host are independent of the intensity of infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan 333, Taiwan. wanglc@mail.cgu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Lian-Chen
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chuan-Min
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.forename: Chao-Lin
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Eng-Rin
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chao
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D017185:Angiostrongylus cantonensis / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood; D001700:Biomphalaria; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley / Q000469:parasitology*; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D017206:Strongylida Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth