title: Encephalitozoonosis in pharmacologically immunosuppressed mice.
abstract: Encephalitozoon cuniculi is a parasite that has been identified as a cause of opportunistic infections in immunocompromised individuals. This study was performed to evaluate E. cuniculi infection in pharmacologically immunosuppressed mice. Mice were immunosuppressed with cyclophosphamide (100mg/kg twice a week, IP) or cyclosporin (10mg/kg daily, IP) and inoculated with 10(7)E. cuniculi spores IP. The E. cuniculi spores were cultivated in MDCK cells. E. cuniculi identification was performed by light microscopy studies using Gram-Chromotrope, Hematoxylin-Eosin and Toluidine blue-fuchsin staining techniques, as well as by PCR at 15, 30 and 45 days post-inoculation (DPI). Cyclophosphamide-immunosuppressed mice have greatly reduced amounts of CD8(+), CD4(+) and CD3(+) T cells and CD19(+) B cells. The cells from these mice were analyzed by FACS and showed acute disseminated and fatal encephalitozoonosis. Mice treated with ciclosporin, which is both antiparasitic and immunosuppressive, have a milder, chronic, non-lethal infection and showed a significant reduction only in CD3(+) and CD4(+) T cell numbers. Our results support the role of CD8(+) T cells in controlling infection by E. cuniculi and show that preventive measures are essential for preventing this zoonosis in individuals undergoing chemotherapy for cancer or other immunosuppressive therapies.
authors.affiliation: Pos-Graduation in Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Universidade Paulista, Rua José Maria Whitaker 290, Mirandópolis, São Paulo, Brazil. anetelallo@hotmail.com,
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anete Lallo
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Porta Miche Hirschfeld
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009670:Encephalitozoon cuniculi / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D016890:Encephalitozoonosis / Q000276:immunology*; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007422:Intestines / Q000473:pathology; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide