title: Metabolic and adaptive immune responses induced in mice infected with tissue-dwelling nematodeTrichinella zimbabwensis.
abstract: Tissue-dwelling helminths are known to induce intestinal and systemic inflammation accompanied with host compensatory mechanisms to counter balance nutritional and metabolic deficiencies. The metabolic and immune responses of the host depend on parasite species and tissues affected by the parasite. This study investigated metabolic and immuno-inflammatory responses of mice infected with tissue-dwelling larvae ofTrichinella zimbabwensisand explored the relationship between infection, metabolic parameters and Th1/Th17 immune responses. Sixty (60) female BALB/c mice aged between 6 to 8 weeks old were randomly assigned intoT. zimbabwensis-infected and control groups. Levels of Th1 (interferon-γ) and Th17 (interleukin-17) cytokines, insulin and blood glucose were determined as well as measurements of body weight, food and water intake. Results showed that during the enteric phase of infection, insulin and IFN-γ levels were significantly higher in theTrichinellainfected group accompanied with a reduction in the trends of food intake and weight loss compared with the control group. During systemic larval migration, trends in food and water intake were significantly altered and this was attributed to compensatory feeding resulting in weight gain, reduced insulin levels and increased IL-17 levels. Larval migration also induced a Th1/Th17 derived inflammatory response. It was concluded thatT. zimbabwensisalters metabolic parameters by instigating host compensatory feeding. Furthermore, we showed for the first time that non-encapsulatedT. zimbabwensisparasite plays a role in immunomodulating host Th1/Th17 type responses during chronic infection.
authors.affiliation: College of Health Sciences, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), Howard Campus, Durban, South Africa; Tropical Infectious Diseases, Institute of Primate Research, Karen, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Onkoba
authors.affiliation: College of Health Sciences, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), Howard Campus, Durban, South Africa.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Chimbari
authors.affiliation: Tropical Infectious Diseases, Institute of Primate Research, Karen, Nairobi, Kenya; School of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, University of Nairobi, Kenya; School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Durban, South Africa.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kamau
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Durban, South Africa.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mukaratirwa
keywords: Enteric phase; Insulin; Larval migration; Th1 and Th17; Trichinella zimbabwensis