Transmammary infection in BALB/c mice with chronic toxocariasis.
Human toxocariasis is a neglected public health problem. Infection of humans generally results from the accidental ingestion of embryonated Toxocara canis eggs, but it is important to broaden knowledge about other forms of transmission. This study aimed to demonstrate the prevalence of transmammary transmission in mice with chronic toxocariasis. BALB/c mice in groups 1 (G1) and 3 (G3) were inoculated with 1200 T. canis eggs 60days before mating, whereas those of group 2 (G2) were not infected. After delivery, the G1 neonates were transferred to G2 females to be nursed, and vice versa. Thus, the mice generated by G2 females and breastfed by G1 females could be infected only during lactation. In the G3 group, offspring were not exchanged. The search for T. canis larvae in the bodies of the lactating females and their offspring was performed after weaning and at 60days old, respectively. The frequency of transmammary infection in the mice generated by G2 uninfected females and breastfed by G1 infected females was 19.8%, which was similar to that observed (19.6%) in the mice bred and fed by G3 females. The frequency of infection in the mice generated by G1 females and breastfed by G2 females was only 4.2%, which was lower than that of G1 (p=0.0064) and G3 (p=0.0062) groups. Transmammary infection by mice with chronic toxocariasis was found to be more prevalent than congenital infection.
Post-Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, FURG, Brazil.
Patricia
P
de Souza Aguiar
Parasitology Laboratory, FURG, Brazil.
Raquel Dutra
RD
Furtado
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, UFPEL, Brazil.
Luciana Farias da Costa
LF
de Avila
Parasitology Laboratory, FURG, Brazil.
Paula
P
de Lima Telmo
Parasitology Laboratory, FURG, Brazil.
Lourdes Helena Rodrigues
LH
Martins
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, UFPEL, Brazil.
Maria Elisabeth Aires
ME
Berne
Academic Area of the University Hospital, FURG, General Osório, CEP: 96200-190, Centro, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil.
Pedro Eduardo Almeida
PE
da Silva
Academic Area of the University Hospital, FURG, General Osório, CEP: 96200-190, Centro, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: cjscaini@yahoo.com.br.
Carlos James
CJ
Scaini
D000818:Animals; D000833:Animals, Suckling; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D007774:Lactation; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000469:parasitology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010063:Ovum; D011247:Pregnancy; D017166:Toxocara canis; D014120:Toxocariasis / Q000635:transmission*
Experimental model; Lactogenic transmission; Toxocara canis