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. 2004 Jul;68(3):193-200.

Clinical signs and hematologic, cytokine, and plasma nitric oxide alterations in response to Strongylus vulgaris infection in helminth-naïve ponies

Jeremy D Hubert  1 , Thomas L Seahorn, Thomas R Klei, Giselle Hosgood, David W Horohov, Rustin M Moore
Affiliations

Clinical signs and hematologic, cytokine, and plasma nitric oxide alterations in response to Strongylus vulgaris infection in helminth-naïve ponies

Jeremy D Hubert et al. Can J Vet Res. 2004 Jul.

Abstract
in English, French

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of infection with Strongylus vulgaris on serum cytokines and plasma nitric oxide (NO) concentrations in helminth-naive ponies. Group 1 (n = 21) was given 500 S. vulgaris L3 larvae and group 2 (n = 7) received a saline control. Ponies were monitored daily for clinical signs, and blood was collected for complete blood cell counts and serum cytokines (TNF, IL-1, IL-6) quantification. Group 1 ponies were depressed, anorexic, and febrile for variable periods of time. Plasma NO was increased on day 21 in group 1 and on days 9 and 21 in group 2. Significant increases in total white blood cell counts, fibrinogen, and plasma protein concentrations in group 1 were found. Significant decreases in red blood cell counts and packed cell volume were also noted in group 1. There were no differences in serum cytokines across time in either group of ponies. Despite the lack of proinflammatory cytokine induction with the apparent inflammatory response to S. vulgaris there is evidence of a potential role of NO.

Les objectifs de l’étude étaient de déterminer chez des poneys jamais exposés aux helminthes l’effet d’une infection par Strongylus vulgaris sur les concentrations de cytokines sériques et d’oxyde nitreux (NO) plasmatique. Les animaux du groupe 1 (N = 21) ont reçu 500 larves de S. vulgaris au stade L3 et le groupe 2 (N = 7) de la saline. Les poneys ont été examinés quotidiennement pour noter les signes cliniques et du sang prélevé pour un comptage cellulaire sanguin complet et une quantification des cytokines sériques (TNF, IL-1 et IL-6). Les poneys du groupe 1 étaient abattus, anorexiques et fébriles pour des périodes de temps variables. Le NO plasmatique était augmenté au jour 21 pour les animaux du groupe 1 et aux jours 9 et 21 pour les animaux du groupe 2. Des augmentations significatives du compte total de leucocytes, des concentrations de fibrinogène et de protéines plasmatiques ont été notées pour les animaux du groupe 1. Des diminutions significatives des comptages d’érythrocytes et de l’hématocrite ont également été notées pour les animaux du groupe 1. Pour ce qui est des cytokines, aucune différence dans le temps n’a été notée chez les deux groupes d’animaux. Malgré l’absence d’induction de cytokines pro-inflammatoires, la présence d’une réponse inflammatoire apparente envers S. vulgaris suggère un rôle potentiel pour le NO.

(Traduit par Docteur Serge Messier)

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Mean (± s) rectal temperature in parasitized and control ponies. aSignificant (P < 0.05) differences from baseline within the parasitized group.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Mean (± s) packed cell volume in parasitized and control ponies. aSignificant differences (P < 0.05) from baseline within the parasitized group. bSignificant differences (P < 0.05) from baseline within the control group.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Mean (± s) fibrinogen concentration in parasitized and control ponies. aSignificant (P < 0.05) differences from baseline within the parasitized group. aSignificant differences (P < 0.05) from baseline within the control group.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Mean (± s) leukocyte counts in parasitized and control ponies. aSignificant (P < 0.05) differences from baseline within the parasitized group.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Mean (± s) nitric oxide concentrations in parasitized and control ponies. aSignificant (P < 0.05) differences from baseline within the parasitized group. aSignificant differences (P < 0.05) from baseline within the control group.
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