title: Detection of cysteine protease in Taenia solium-induced brain granulomas in naturally infected pigs.
abstract: In order to further characterize the immune response around the viable or degenerating Taenia solium cysts in the pig brain, the involvement of cysteine protease in the immune evasion was assessed. Brain tissues from 30 adult pigs naturally infected with T. solium cysticercosis were subjected to histopathology using hematoxylin and eosin stain, and immunohistochemistry using caspase-3 antibodies. Histopathological evaluation revealed lesions of stage I which was characterized by presence of viable parasite surrounded with minimal to moderate inflammatory cells and stage III characterized by the presence of a disintegrating parasite surrounded with high inflammatory cells. The results of immunohistochemistry indicated caspase-3 positive cells interspaced between inflammatory infiltrate mainly in stage I lesions, indicating the presence of cysteine protease. This result confirms the earlier hypothesis that cysteine protease may play a role in inducing immune evasion through apoptosis around viable T. solium cysts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 57, DK-1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark. emkupasi@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ernatus Martin
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Mkupasi
authors.forename: Chummy Sikalizyo
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Sikasunge
authors.forename: Helena Aminiel
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Ngowi
authors.forename: Pall S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Leifsson
authors.forename: Maria Vang
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Johansen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D057056:Cysteine Proteases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006099:Granuloma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D041201:Taenia solium
chemical_list: D057056:Cysteine Proteases
keywords: Apoptosis; Cysteine protease; Neurocysticercosis; Pigs; Taenia solium