Decreased intensity of inflammation in benznidazole-treated mice inoculated with Trypanosoma cruzi I stocks from Mexico and persistence of circulating parasites.

Abstract

We analyzed the intensity of inflammation and parasitism in BALB/c mice infected with Trypanosoma cruzi I stocks from Mexico with and without benznidazole treatment in the acute phase of disease. Heart and skeletal muscles were evaluated for parasites and inflammation and blood was evaluated for persistence of circulating parasites. Parasitemia was influenced by T. cruzi stocks used and benznidazole treatment. This treatment cleared circulating parasites three days after starting treatment when monitored by direct microscopy. There was a significant reduction of inflammation in skeletal muscles after benznidazole treatment in animals infected with Mexican T. cruzi I stocks (P < 0.05), but this reduction was not significant in the heart (P > 0.05). Trypanosoma cruzi I parasites from Mexico were demonstrated by polymerase chain reaction in tissues and blood of animals after benznidazole treatment.

• Authors: Guillermo Cruz-Zetina, Rodolfo del Rio-Rodriguez, Angel Ramos-Ligonio, Ruth López, Victor Monteon
• Journal: The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene (Am J Trop Med Hyg) Vol. 87 Issue 4 Pg. 671-4 (Oct 2012) ISSN: 1476-1645 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22890036 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Nitroimidazoles
• Trypanocidal Agents
• benzonidazole

Topics

• Animals
• Cardiomyopathies (blood, drug therapy, parasitology)
• Chagas Disease (blood, drug therapy, parasitology)
• Genotype
• Heart (parasitology)
• Inflammation (blood, drug therapy, parasitology)
• Mexico
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Muscle, Skeletal (immunology, parasitology)
• Nitroimidazoles (therapeutic use)
• Parasitemia (blood, drug therapy, parasitology)
• Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Trypanocidal Agents (therapeutic use)
• Trypanosoma cruzi (drug effects, isolation & purification)