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Changes in the bacterial cecal flora of mice infected with Trichuris muris (Schrank, 1788)
Abstract:
Cecal microorganisms of mice were categorized and enumerated weekly during the developmental cycle of infection with the whipworm, Trichuris muris. The cecal bacterial population consisted of Escherichia coli, Proteus spp, Acinetobacter lwoffi (Mima polymorpha), aerobic lactobacilli, staphylococci, enterococci, and anaerobes (bacteroides, streptococci, and lactobacilli) in control and T. muris-infected mice. The aerobic lactobacilli and the anaerobes constituted the greatest number of organisms in both groups. In week three there was a decrease in the number of these organisms, and in week four fewer of these and of all other organisms in the worm-infected mice when compared to controls. The most significantly reduced bacterial counts were observed during the period of T. muris self-cure.
Insights
Trichuris muris infection in mice alters cecal microbiota, significantly reducing beneficial aerobic lactobacilli and anaerobes during self-cure. This highlights the impact of helminth infections on gut bacteria composition.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Parasitology
- Immunology
Background:
- The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in host health and immune function.
- Helminth infections can significantly modulate the host's microbial communities.
- Understanding these interactions is vital for developing novel therapeutic strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of Trichuris muris infection on the composition and dynamics of the cecal microbiota in mice.
- To quantify changes in specific bacterial populations during the course of infection and self-cure.
Main Methods:
- Mice were infected with Trichuris muris, and cecal contents were collected weekly.
- Bacterial populations including Escherichia coli, Proteus spp., Acinetobacter lwoffi, aerobic lactobacilli, staphylococci, enterococci, and anaerobes were enumerated.
- Bacterial counts in infected mice were compared to control groups.
Main Results:
- The cecal microbiota was dominated by aerobic lactobacilli and anaerobes in both control and infected mice.
- A significant decrease in these dominant bacterial groups was observed by week three post-infection.
- Further reductions in all bacterial counts were noted in week four, particularly during the T. muris self-cure period.
Conclusions:
- Trichuris muris infection profoundly alters the cecal bacterial composition in mice.
- The reduction in key bacterial groups, especially during self-cure, suggests a complex host-parasite-microbiota interaction.
- These findings underscore the susceptibility of the gut microbiome to parasitic helminth infections.