| Title: |
Protein undernutrition reduces the efficacy of praziquantel in a murine model of Schistosoma mansoni infection |
| Authors: |
Kadji Fassi, Joseph Bertin; Boukeng Jatsa, Hermine; Membe Femoe, Ulrich; Greigert, Valentin; Brunet, Julie; Cannet, Catherine; Kenfack, Christian Mérimé; Gipwe Feussom, Nestor; Tienga Nkondo, Emilienne; Abou-Bacar, Ahmed; Pfaff, Alexander Wilhelm; Kamgang, René; Kamtchouing, Pierre; Tchuem Tchuenté, Louis-Albert |
| Contributors: |
Mitre, Edward; Cooperative and Cultural Action Service; Strasbourg Institute of Parasitology and Tropical Diseases |
| Source: |
PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases ; volume 16, issue 7, page e0010249 ; ISSN 1935-2735 |
| Publisher Information: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| Publication Year: |
2022 |
| Collection: |
PLOS Publications (via CrossRef) |
| Description: |
Background Undernutrition and schistosomiasis are public health problems and often occur in low and middle-income countries. Protein undernutrition can alter the host-parasite environment system and aggravate the course of schistosomiasis. This study aimed to assess the impact of a low-protein diet on the efficacy of praziquantel. Methodology/Principal findings Thirty-day-old mice were fed with a low-protein diet, and 40 days later, they were individually infected with fifty Schistosoma mansoni cercariae. A 28-day-treatment with praziquantel at 100 mg/kg for five consecutive days followed by distilled water begins on the 36 th day post-infection. Mice were sacrificed on the 64 th day post-infection. We determined the parasitological burden, liver and intestine histomorphometry, liver injury, and immunomodulation parameters. Praziquantel treatment of infected mice fed with a standard diet (IN-PZQ) resulted in a significant reduction of worm and egg burdens and a normalization of iron and calcium levels. The therapy also improved schistosomiasis-induced hepatopathy and oxidative stress. The anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities of praziquantel were also significant in these mice. When infected mice receiving the low-protein diet were treated with praziquantel (ILP-PZQ), the body weight loss and hepatomegaly were not alleviated, and the worm and liver egg burdens were significantly higher than those of IN-PZQ mice ( P < 0.001). The treatment did not reduce the increased activities of ALT and γ-GGT, the high malondialdehyde concentration, and the liver granuloma volume. The iron and calcium levels were not ameliorated and differed from those of IN-PZQ mice ( P < 0.001 and P < 0.05). Moreover, in these mice, praziquantel treatment did not reverse the high level of IL-5 and the low mRNA expression of CCL3/MIP-1α and CXCL-10/IP-10 induced by S . mansoni infection. Conclusion/Significance These results demonstrated that a low-protein diet reduced the schistosomicidal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, ... |
| Document Type: |
article in journal/newspaper |
| Language: |
English |
| DOI: |
10.1371/journal.pntd.0010249 |
| Availability: |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0010249; https://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0010249 |
| Rights: |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.87354DF8 |
| Database: |
BASE |