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Published on: July 12, 2018
Experimental melioidosis in inbred mouse strains
D Veljanov1, A Vesselinova, S Nikolova
1Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria.
Abstract:
Experimental infection was induced in three inbred mouse strains (BALB/c, BDF1 hybrid and C57BL) by i. p. inoculation with Pseudomonas pseudomallei. The bacterial load in the viscera and the host response induced in different compartments (blood, peritoneal cavity and organs) were determined. Blood cell parameters and peritoneal exudative cell populations were evaluated during the infection with the aid of an automated haematology analyser Technicon H-1. It was found that all mouse strains produced a similar intraperitoneal inflammatory response with predominance of granulocytes at the early stage of infection and subsequent increase of macrophages especially in BDF1 hybrid and BALB/c mice. The highest bacterial count found in the liver and spleen of C57BL was associated with corresponding tissue damage (purulent pneumonia, abscesses in liver, karyorrhexis of hepatocytes and meningoencephalitis). The degree of bacterial load and histological changes found in BALB/c and BDF1 hybrid mice were lower than in C57BL mice. The results show that the variations in the infection magnitude among inbred mouse strains are host-dependent.
Insights
This study shows that different mouse strains exhibit varying susceptibility to Pseudomonas pseudomallei infection. Host genetics significantly influence bacterial load and tissue damage, highlighting the importance of host-dependent responses in infectious disease.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Genetics
Background:
- Pseudomonas pseudomallei causes melioidosis, a serious infectious disease.
- Understanding host-pathogen interactions is crucial for developing effective treatments.
- Inbred mouse strains offer a model to study genetic influences on disease severity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the susceptibility of different inbred mouse strains to Pseudomonas pseudomallei.
- To characterize the host immune response and bacterial load in various tissues.
- To determine the role of host genetics in the outcome of experimental melioidosis.
Main Methods:
- Induction of experimental infection with Pseudomonas pseudomallei in BALB/c, BDF1, and C57BL mice.
- Quantification of bacterial load in visceral organs.
- Evaluation of blood cell parameters and peritoneal exudate cells using an automated hematology analyzer.
- Histopathological examination of infected tissues.
Main Results:
- All mouse strains showed an inflammatory response with granulocyte and macrophage shifts.
- C57BL mice exhibited the highest bacterial load in the liver and spleen, correlating with severe tissue damage.
- BALB/c and BDF1 mice had lower bacterial counts and less pronounced histological changes compared to C57BL mice.
Conclusions:
- Mouse strain significantly impacts the severity of Pseudomonas pseudomallei infection.
- Host genetic factors play a critical role in determining susceptibility and disease progression.
- These findings underscore the importance of host-dependent variations in infectious disease models.
