Original Research
Virulence and pathogenicity of three Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense stabilates in a Swiss white mouse model
Submitted: 27 August 2013 | Published: 05 October 2015
About the author(s)
Christopher Kariuki, Institute of Primate Research, KenyaJohn M. Kagira, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
Victor Mwadime, Institute of Primate Research, Kenya
Maina Ngotho, Institute of Primate Research, Kenya
Abstract
Background: A key objective in basic research on human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) is developing a cheap and reliable experimental model of the disease for use in pathogenesis and drug studies.
Objective: With a view to improving current models, a study was undertaken to characterise the virulence and pathogenicity of three Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense stabilates, labelled as International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)-2918, ILRI-3953, and Institute of Primate Research (IPR)-001, infected into Swiss white mice.
Methods: Swiss white mice were infected intraperitoneally with trypanosomes and observedfor parasitaemia using wet blood smears obtained by tail snipping. Induction of late-stagedisease was undertaken using diminazene aceturate (40 mg/kg, Berenil) with curativetreatment done using melarsoprol (3.6 mg/kg, Arsobal).
Results: The prepatent period for the stabilates ranged from three to four days with mean peak parasitaemia ranging from Log10 6.40 to 8.36. First peak parasitaemia for all stabilates varied between six and seven days post infection (DPI) followed by secondary latency in ILRI-2918 (15–17 DPI) and IPR-001 (17–19 DPI). Survival times ranged from six DPI (ILRI-3953) to 86 DPI (IPR-001). Hindleg paresis was observed in both ILRI-3953 (at peak parasitaemia) and ILRI-2918 (after relapse parasitaemia). Mice infected with IPR-001 survived until 54 DPI when curative treatment was undertaken.
Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the stabilates ILRI-2918 and ILRI-3953 were unsuitable for modelling late-stage HAT in mice. The stabilate IPR-001 demonstrated the potential to induce chronic trypanosomiasis in Swiss white mice for use in development of a late-stage model of HAT.
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Crossref Citations
1. The pathogenicity of blood stream and central nervous system forms of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense trypanosomes in laboratory mice: a comparative study
Kariuki Ndungu, John Thuita, Grace Murilla, John Kagira, Joanna Auma, Paul Mireji, Geoffrey Ngae, Paul Okumu, Purity Gitonga, Samuel Guya, Raymond Mdachi
F1000Research vol: 11 first page: 260 year: 2023
doi: 10.12688/f1000research.75518.2