EFFECT OF Bifidobacterium animalis ON MICE INFECTED WITH Strongyloides venezuelensis

• Published in: Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo
• Main Authors: Teresa Cristina Goulart Oliveira-Sequeira, Érica Boarato David, Cláudia Ribeiro, Semíramis Guimarães, Ana Paula Batista Masseno, Satie Katagiri, Julio Lopes Sequeira
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade de São Paulo (USP) 2014
• Subjects: Strongyloides venezuelensis; Bifidobacterium animalis; Probiotics; Mice; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0036-46652014000200003; https://doaj.org/article/f98f915298d64d2ab87f3fdbb6a70356

The administration of viable Bifidobacterium animaliswas tested to induce resistance against Strongyloides venezuelensis infection in mice. Effects on parasite burden, worm length, egg output, and intestinal mucosal histology were evaluated. The oral administration of B. animalis, strain 04450B, starting 14 days before the inoculation of nematode larvae significantly decreased the worm burden and egg output. In probiotic treated animals, the percent reduction of adult worms in the intestine was of 33% and the reduction of egg production was of 21%, compared with those of the control group. The duodenum villous height and villous/crypt ratio were significantly higher in probiotic-treated mice, indicating that this group could be experiencing less intestinal damage. The present findings revealed that the administration of B. animalis for the amelioration of host response to nematode infections is biologically plausible and could have some potential for impacting public health. Meanwhile, further study is needed to delineate the nature and identity of the factor(s) involved in these beneficial effects.