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Updated: Aug 10, 2026
Transient Transduction of the Strobilated Forms of Echinococcus granulosus
Published on: September 16, 2022
Effect of mouse strain variations and cortisone treatment on the establishment and growth of primary Echinococcus
1Department of Biology and Microbiology, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota 57007, USA. michael-hildreth@sdstate.edu
Abstract:
The main purpose of this study was to determine the effects of cortisone on the number and size of primary Echinococcus multilocularis cysts developing in a moderately resistant strain of mice, i.e., C3H/HeJ. Computerized image analysis was used to measure the surface area occupied by hydatid cysts 10 wk after inoculation of the mice with E. multilocularis eggs. Our second objective was to compare the infectivity of primary E. multilocularis hydatid cysts in C57BL/6J-Ay/a (lethal yellow) mice with that in C57BL/6J-a/a (non-agouti black) mice. The data obtained show no difference between the C3H/HeJ and C57BL/6J-a/a strains of mice; yet, the image analysis method was able to detect a slight increase in the total cyst size within the Ay/a mutant of the C57BL/6J strain. Treatment of C3H/HeJ mice with cortisone drastically increased both the number of cysts and the average size of each cyst when the treatment occurred early in the infection.
Insights
Cortisone treatment significantly increased Echinococcus multilocularis cyst development in mice. This study explored cortisone
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Immunology
- Genetics
Background:
- Echinococcus multilocularis is a parasitic cestode causing cystic echinococcosis.
- Host genetics and immune status influence parasite development.
- Cortisone is a corticosteroid with known immunomodulatory effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of cortisone on Echinococcus multilocularis cyst burden and size in mice.
- To compare the susceptibility of different mouse strains to E. multilocularis infection.
- To evaluate the efficacy of computerized image analysis in quantifying parasitic cysts.
Main Methods:
- Inoculation of mice (C3H/HeJ, C57BL/6J-Ay/a, C57BL/6J-a/a) with E. multilocularis eggs.
- Administration of cortisone to C3H/HeJ mice early in the infection course.
- Computerized image analysis to measure cyst surface area 10 weeks post-inoculation.
Main Results:
- Cortisone treatment in C3H/HeJ mice led to a significant increase in both the number and size of E. multilocularis cysts.
- No significant difference in cyst development was observed between C3H/HeJ and C57BL/6J-a/a mouse strains.
- A slight increase in total cyst size was detected in the C57BL/6J-Ay/a (lethal yellow) mouse strain.
Conclusions:
- Early cortisone administration enhances E. multilocularis parasite proliferation and growth.
- Host genetic background plays a role in susceptibility to E. multilocularis infection.
- Computerized image analysis is a reliable method for quantifying parasitic cyst burden.
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