Imaging of Toxocara canis larvae labelled by CFSE in BALB/c mice

Abstract

Mice are used most often as a model for human toxocariasis caused by Toxocara canis larvae. Variety of symptoms developing during the infection reflects behaviour of the larvae, which are able to escape from the intestine and further invade and damage various host organs. In order to find an approach enabling observation on parasite behaviour in mouse in vivo, we used an epifluorescence method and a small animal imaging system (SAIS). Larvae of T. canis were labelled by carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE) which incorporated on the parasite gastrointestinal tract. Following infection of BALB/c mice by CFSE-labelled larvae it has been observed that staining had no influence on viability and further migratory activity of the parasites through the host organs (the intestine, liver, lungs and brain) where they were detected by SAIS until day 17 p.i. In addition, the dye did not affect larval antigenic activity as well as the development of related immune response. Imaging of parasites labelled by CFSE, therefore, may represent a promising way to study behaviour of T. canis larvae in a paratenic host.