Differential susceptibil ity to Brugia pahangiinfection in Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus)of different coat colour

Autor: Shimizu-Suganuma, Masumi, Shichinohe, Kazuhiro, Tsukidate, Setsuko, Fujita, Koichiro
Zdroj: Laboratory Animals; July 2000, Vol. 34 Issue: 3 p290-297, 8p
Abstrakt: The influence of intraspecific host variables on the response to parasitic infections is an important aspect of host-parasite relationships, yet little is known about this aspect of filariasis for lack of a model. This study presents coat colour mutants of the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus)as potential new models for research into the effects of host genetic variation on response to filarial infection. Peak level of microfilaraemia, eosinophil response, body weight and degree of splenomegaly in gerbils infected with Brugia pahangivaried with agouti, albino, and black coat colour. These results suggested that coat colour-related genes might influence host immune response to developmental stages of the parasite and eosinophil-mediated reaction might cause host damage.
Databáze: Supplemental Index