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Susceptibility differences to Cryptosporidium parvum infection in two strains of gamma interferon knockout mice
1Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA.
Abstract:
Differences in susceptibility to cryptosporidial infections were investigated between 2 strains of gamma interferon knockout (GKO) mice. Male C57BL/6J-Ifg and BALB/c-Ifg (GKO) mice, ages 8-10 wk, were inoculated with infectious oocysts at various doses. C57BL/6J-Ifg mice developed overwhelming infections and died 9-12 days after infection. Low inoculum doses (1 x 10(3)) did not increase the survival time significantly. The infection intensity in C57BL/6J-Ifg mice inoculated with 1 x 10(5) oocysts/mouse increased markedly on day 4 postinfection (PI) and continued to increase significantly over the next 6-7 days. Most of the C57BL/6J-Ifg mice exceeded 15% weight loss and died by day 10 PI. In contrast, BALB/c-Ifg mice developed moderate infections from which they recovered. The average parasite load in the BALB/c-Ifg mice was 100 times lower than in C57BL/6J-Ifg mice. Mice survived until termination of the experiment (39 days) even when 1 x 10(6) oocysts per mouse were used for inoculation. BALB/c-Ifg mice did not exhibit significant weight loss (or difference in stool consistency). These 2 mouse strains make excellent models for studying differences in recovering and nonrecovering immune mechanisms.
Insights
Gamma interferon knockout (GKO) mice show varied cryptosporidial infection susceptibility. C57BL/6J-Ifg mice succumbed to infection, while BALB/c-Ifg mice recovered, highlighting distinct immune responses.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Genetics
Background:
- Cryptosporidial infections pose significant health challenges.
- Understanding host immune responses is crucial for developing effective treatments.
- Gamma interferon plays a key role in controlling intracellular parasitic infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the differential susceptibility of two gamma interferon knockout (GKO) mouse strains to cryptosporidial infections.
- To elucidate the distinct immune mechanisms underlying recovery versus non-recovery from infection.
Main Methods:
- Two strains of GKO mice (C57BL/6J-Ifg and BALB/c-Ifg) were inoculated with varying doses of Cryptosporidium oocysts.
- Mice were monitored for survival, infection intensity, and weight loss post-infection.
- Parasite load was quantified and compared between the two strains.
Main Results:
- C57BL/6J-Ifg mice experienced lethal infections, with high mortality rates and significant weight loss.
- BALB/c-Ifg mice developed moderate infections and recovered, exhibiting a parasite load 100 times lower than C57BL/6J-Ifg mice.
- BALB/c-Ifg mice survived high oocyst doses without significant adverse effects.
Conclusions:
- The study identifies distinct susceptibility profiles to cryptosporidial infection in GKO mouse strains.
- C57BL/6J-Ifg and BALB/c-Ifg mice serve as valuable models for studying immune mechanisms in cryptosporidiosis.
- These models can advance research into host-pathogen interactions and therapeutic strategies.
