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Murine virus contaminant of Trypanosoma cruzi experimental infection
H de A Rangel1, L Verinaud, I J Camargo
1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, CEMIB-UNICAMP, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
Abstract:
The possibility that some virus contaminants could be altering host response to Trypanosoma cruzi experimental infection was investigated. Data obtained showed that CBA/J mice infected with stocks of parasite maintained in mice (YIUEC) presented higher level of parasitemia and shorter survival times than those infected with a stock (YITC) which was also maintained in mice but had been previously passaged in cell culture. Mouse antibody production tests, performed with the filtered plasma of mice infected with YIUEC, indicated the presence of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) while no virus was detected when testing the plasma of YITC infected mice. Filtered plasma of YIEUC infected mice was shown to contain a factor able to enhance the level of parasitemia and to reduce the mean survival time of mice challenged with 10(5) YITC. This factor, that could be serially passaged to naïve mice was shown to be a coronavirus by neutralization tests.
Insights
Mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) contamination in Trypanosoma cruzi stocks significantly increased infection severity and reduced survival in mice. This coronavirus was identified as the factor responsible for the altered host response, impacting experimental outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Parasitology
- Immunology
Background:
- Experimental infections with Trypanosoma cruzi are crucial for studying Chagas disease.
- Unidentified contaminants can potentially confound experimental results and alter host responses.
- The impact of viral contaminants on T. cruzi infection dynamics in mice requires investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether viral contaminants influence host response during experimental Trypanosoma cruzi infection in mice.
- To identify the nature of the contaminant and its specific effects on T. cruzi infection parameters.
Main Methods:
- Comparison of T. cruzi infection outcomes (parasitemia, survival) in mice infected with different parasite stocks (YIUEC vs. YITC).
- Mouse antibody production tests to detect viral presence in infected mouse plasma.
- In vivo experiments to assess the effect of filtered plasma from infected mice on T. cruzi challenged mice.
- Neutralization tests to identify the viral agent.
Main Results:
- Mice infected with YIUEC (maintained in mice) showed higher parasitemia and lower survival than those infected with YITC (passaged in cell culture).
- Mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) was detected in the plasma of YIUEC-infected mice, but not in YITC-infected mice.
- Filtered plasma from YIUEC-infected mice enhanced parasitemia and reduced survival in naive mice challenged with T. cruzi.
- The identified factor was confirmed to be a coronavirus.
Conclusions:
- Mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) contamination significantly exacerbates Trypanosoma cruzi experimental infections in mice.
- The presence of MHV alters host response, leading to increased parasitemia and decreased survival.
- Viral contaminants must be carefully controlled in experimental models to ensure accurate research findings.