Evaluation of immune response and haematological parameters in infected male albino rats by giardiasis

The present work aimed to study the effects of Giardia lamblia infection on immunological and haematological studies and to evaluate immunoglobulins and some cytokines. Fifty male albino rats were divided into six groups. The control group includes 20 rats and the infected group includes 30 rats. All the estimations were checked all over five checkpoints (CP) (7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 days post-infection). Serum levels of IgA, IgG, IgM and IgE. Cytokines INF-γ, TNF-alpha, IL-4, IL-10 and haematological parameters were determined. Cyst and trophozoite were counted. A considerable increase in the level of immunoglobulins and cytokines in all infected groups compared with the control group was documented. Furthermore, a significant decrease in red blood corpuscles, haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration levels was observed, whereas substantial increases in mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin and platelets were observed. Moreover, infected rats had a substantial rise in WBCs, lymphocytes and eosinophil counts compared with the control group, whereas neutrophils and monocytes had a significant decrease. The number of trophozoites and cysts was significantly increased in infected groups before diminishing after day 28. The current results showed that Th1 and Th2 immune responses, which are characterized by the production of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-10, are important for protection against Giardia infections and also verified the balance between these cytokines and the timing of their production was crucial in G. lamblia immune response.