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Host specificity of cloned Spironucleus muris in laboratory rodents
G Schagemann1, W Bohnet, I Kunstýr
1Central Laboratory Animal Facility, Hannover Medical School, West Germany.
Abstract:
With three clones of Spironucleus muris (S. muris)--established from a mouse, hamster, and rat--homologous and heterologous host species were experimentally infected. Each host was susceptible to the clone originating from the homologous donor. In addition, both mice and hamsters were susceptible to the reciprocal heterologous clones. In contrast, infections of the rat with both heterologous clones were very poor, i.e. quantitatively low and ephemeral. It was not possible to infect hamsters and mice, not even athymic, with S. muris from the rat. This suggests a strain heterogeneity within the genus S. muris. In general, the genetic background of the host influenced the infection, the sex of the host did not.
Insights
Spironucleus muris (S. muris) clones show host-specific infectivity, with rat strains being particularly resistant to infection in mice and hamsters. This indicates significant strain heterogeneity within S. muris.
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Microbiology
- Host-Pathogen Interactions
Background:
- Spironucleus muris (S. muris) is an intestinal parasite found in rodents.
- Understanding host-parasite specificity is crucial for controlling parasitic infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the infectivity of different S. muris clones across various host species.
- To determine if host genetic background influences S. muris infection susceptibility.
Main Methods:
- Experimental infection of mice, hamsters, and rats with three distinct S. muris clones (mouse, hamster, rat).
- Evaluation of infection success based on quantitative parasite load and duration.
- Infection attempts in athymic mice and hamsters to assess the role of the immune system.
Main Results:
- All hosts were susceptible to the S. muris clone from their homologous species.
- Mice and hamsters were susceptible to heterologous clones from each other's species.
- Rats exhibited very poor susceptibility to heterologous S. muris clones, and were refractory to infection from rat-derived clones.
- Athymic mice and hamsters were not infected by rat-derived S. muris, suggesting innate resistance.
Conclusions:
- Significant strain heterogeneity exists within Spironucleus muris.
- Host genetic background strongly influences S. muris infection outcomes.
- Host sex did not appear to affect infection susceptibility in this study.