Local and systemic effects on inflammation during Eimeria nieschulzi infection

Rats infected with Eimeria nieschulzi, a coccidium that inhabits intestinal epithelium, have a lower basal inflammatory state in their intestinal mucosa eight days postinoculation as reflected by a drop in mucosal peroxidase activity and a decrease in the number of granulocytes in the lamina propria. The reduction of systemic inflammation in infected rats was assessed from a reduction in the formation of granulation tissue around a sterile cotton string implanted under the abdominal skin of the hosts. This reduced inflammatory response, both locally and systemically, occurs during the development of gamonts by the parasite and the release of oocysts from the host. These results plus the presence of normal or slightly elevated numbers of granulocytes in peripheral blood lead to the conclusion that the parasite does not affect hematopoiesis but interferes with some phase in the directed migration of leukocytes to specific sites.