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Updated: Aug 5, 2026
Chronic Salmonella Infected Mouse Model
Published on: May 31, 2010
Physical Signs and Hematological and Biochemical Alterations in Salmonella-Plasmodium Sequentially Coinfected Albino
Omer Bébé Ngouateu1, Raceline Gounoue Kamkumo1, Paul Keilah Lunga2
1Laboratory of Animal Physiology and Therapeutic Research, Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon, uy1.uninet.cm.
Background:
In endemic countries, people remain at risk of contracting both malaria and typhoid concurrently. Though experimental animal models are very reliable for understanding human diseases, the rat model for Plasmodium-Salmonella coinfection remains underresearched.
Objectives:
The present study was performed to characterize the rat model of malaria-typhoid coinfection focusing on physical, hematological, and biochemical parameters.
Methods:
Thirty-four Wistar rats were distributed into five groups including normal control, immunosuppressed, Salmonella-infected, Plasmodium-infected, and Salmonella-Plasmodium-coinfected. Physical signs, mobility, and the fecal appearance of animals were observed. Plasmodium load was monitored through microscopic Giemsa-staining thin blood smears. Concurrently, Salmonella load was evaluated after feces culture in Shigella-Salmonella agar medium based on the McFarland turbidity to determine the number of colony-forming units. Hematological and biochemical parameters were assessed using an automatic hematology analyzer and a spectrophotometer, respectively.
Results:
All the infected animals exhibited at least one clinical sign including piloerection, eye depigmentation, or hyperthermia. Coinfected animals showed severe anemia, leukocytosis, and thrombocytosis compared with monoinfected animals. A significant (p < 0.001) drop in total blood proteins and cholesterol levels was observed in infected rats, with a remarkable decrease in Salmonella-Plasmodium-coinfected rats, whereas transaminase levels significantly (p < 0.001) increased in the same coinfected group.
Conclusion:
This model provides many important features of Salmonella and Plasmodium sequential coinfection and therefore may be used as a tool to better understand, diagnose, and care for human malaria and/or typhoid pathogenesis.
Insights
This study characterizes a rat model for concurrent malaria and typhoid infections, revealing severe anemia and altered biochemical markers in coinfected animals. This model aids in understanding coinfection pathogenesis for improved diagnosis and care.
Area of Science:
- * Infectious disease research
- * Parasitology and bacteriology
- * Animal model development
Background:
- * Malaria (Plasmodium) and typhoid (Salmonella) coinfections pose risks in endemic regions.
- * Experimental models are crucial but the rat model for Plasmodium-Salmonella coinfection is understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To characterize a rat model for malaria-typhoid coinfection.
- * To evaluate physical, hematological, and biochemical parameters in coinfected rats.
Main Methods:
- * Wistar rats were divided into five groups: control, immunosuppressed, Salmonella-infected, Plasmodium-infected, and coinfected.
- * Monitored physical signs, Plasmodium and Salmonella loads, and assessed hematological and biochemical parameters.
Main Results:
- * All infected rats showed clinical signs; coinfected rats exhibited severe anemia, leukocytosis, and thrombocytosis.
- * Significant decreases in total proteins and cholesterol were observed in infected rats.
- * Transaminase levels significantly increased in Salmonella-Plasmodium-coinfected rats.
Conclusions:
- * The rat model effectively mimics key features of sequential Salmonella and Plasmodium coinfection.
- * This model can be a valuable tool for studying coinfection pathogenesis.
- * Findings support enhanced understanding, diagnosis, and care for human malaria and typhoid coinfections.
