Low transformation growth factor-β1 production and collagen synthesis correlate with the lack of hepatic periportal fibrosis development in undernourished mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni

Undernourished mice infected (UI) submitted to low and long-lasting infections by Schistosoma mansoni are unable to develop the hepatic periportal fibrosis that is equivalent to Symmers’ fibrosis in humans. In this report, the effects of the host’s nutritional status on parasite (worm load, egg viability and maturation) and host (growth curves, biology, collagen synthesis and characteristics of the immunological response) were studied and these are considered as interdependent factors influencing the amount and distribution of fibrous tissue in hepatic periovular granulomas and portal spaces. The nutritional status of the host influenced the low body weight and low parasite burden detected in UI mice as well as the number, viability and maturation of released eggs. The reduced oviposition and increased number of degenerated or dead eggs were associated with low protein synthesis detected in deficient hosts, which likely induced the observed decrease in transformation growth factor (TGF)-β1 and liver collagen. Despite the reduced number of mature eggs in UI mice, the activation of TGF-β1 and hepatic stellate cells occurred regardless of the unviability of most miracidia, due to stimulation by fibrogenic proteins and eggshell glycoproteins. However, changes in the repair mechanisms influenced by the nutritional status in deficient animals may account for the decreased liver collagen detected in the present study.

Giardia intestinalis and nutritional status in children participating in the complementary nutrition program, Antioquia, Colombia, May to October 2006 / Giardia intestinalis e estado nutricional em crianças participantes do programa de nutrição complementar, melhoramento alimentar e nutricional da Antioquia (MANA): Instituto Colombiano de Bem-Estar Familiar (ICBF), Antióquia, Colombia, maio a outubro de 2006

Giardia intestinalis infection is prevalent throughout the world and widely distributed in developing countries. In general, children display serious consequences to their state of health, including slow height-weight development; therefore, the main aim of this study was to determine the association between Giardia infection and the nutritional status of children who participate in the program of complementary feeding (Mejoramiento Alimentario y Nutricional de Antioquia (MANA) - Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar (ICBF)). A cross-sectional study examining the association of giardiasis with nutritional status was conducted. A total of 2035 children aged eight months to six years-old were studied. Data were collected using structured questionnaires, anthropometric measurements and laboratory analysis of blood and stool samples. Analysis of the results showed that 27.6% of children were infected with G. intestinalis, while 8.1% and 1.9% were mildly and significantly underweight, respectively, and 14.1% presented stunting. Giardiasis was statistically identified as a strong predictor of stunting in this study population.

A infecção pela Giardia intestinalis está amplamente distribuída no mundo apresentando a maior prevalência nos países em desenvolvimento. Em crianças, esta parasitose pode ter conseqüências graves no estado geral de saúde assim como no ganho de peso e estatura. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi estabelecer a associação entre a infecção com Giardia e o estado nutricional das crianças beneficiárias do programa de complementação alimentar - MANA. Um estudo de corte no qual foram avaliadas 2035 crianças entre os oito meses e os seis anos de idade foi realizado. A informação foi obtida a partir de questionários estruturados, medições antropométricas e exame de fezes. Os resultados mostraram que 27,6% das crianças estavam infectadas com Giardia intestinalis, das quais 8,1% apresentaram desnutrição moderada, 1,9% desnutrição grave e 14,1% franca queda no crescimento. Em conclusão, nesta população a Giardíase foi indicador de desnutrição grave.

Studying some of the mineral elements and vitamins among giardiasis infected patients in Syria

Giardiasis, an intestinal protozoan infection caused by Giardia lamblia, is common in Syria especially among children aged 2-14 years-old. Effect of giardiasis on serological levels of zinc, copper and iron elements and vitamin B[12] and folic acid were assessed in this study. Two children groups were included in this research: 60 children aged 2-14 years-old were diagnosed as having giardiasis by stool examinations, were enrolled as the study group. The control group consisted of 40 age-matched healthy children. Serological levels of zinc, copper and iron were measured by Colorimetric Method in all samples, and serological levels vitamin B[12] and folic acid were measured by Chemiluminescent Immunoassay. The results revealed that giardiasis increased the serological levels of copper, like other infectious agents, however zinc, and iron elements and vitamin B[12] and folic acid leurls decreased during grardasis due to malalsoyotion

Intestinal parasitic infections including cryptosporidiosos and immunological aspects among malnourished children

This is a case control study which involved 194 malnourished children below 5 years of age who were attending Basrah Maternity and Children Hospital during 2001 About 84% have marasmus, 8.24% marasmun kwashiorkor 6.18% kwashiorkor and 1.55% under weight Parasitic infections were more frequent among malnourished children [59.8%] than wellnourished children [33%] with increased frequency among malnourished children with diarrhea [32.5%] Cryptosporidiosis was found in 6.85% of children below 5 years with increased frequency among malnourished children with diarrhea 14.89% compared to 11% in malnourished children without diarrhea Only 2% were noticed among wellnourished children with diarrhea while no case has been recorded in wellnourished children without diarrhea. Depressed cellular immunity characterized by decrease in total lymphocytes [particularly T-lymphocytes] was found among malnourished children either with or without diarrhea While humoral immunity [IgG, IgM, IgA] was significantly elevated among malnourished children with or without diarrhea in comparison to wellnourished children. C3 and C4 were increased in malnourished children without diarrhea with significant difference in C4 only. While they were decreased in malnourished children with diarrhea, with significant difference in C3. In addition, Phagocytic activity showed a significant decrease in malnourished children with or without diarrhea compared to wellnourished children

Influência da desnutrição na esquistossomose experimental do camundongo / Effect of malnutrition in the experimental mouse model os schistosomiasis

A patologia da esquistossomose e inicialmente devido a inflamação granulomatosa ao redor dos ovos depositados pelo S. mansoni com subsequente formação de fibrose. 0 presente estudo examinou as possíveis repercussões da desnutrição no hospedeiro e nos parasitos. Os camundongos desnutridos mostraram uma baixa resposta granulomatosa, caracterizada por granulomas pequenos e esparsos no tecido hepatico, sem formação de fibrose periportal. Os animais eutróficos apresentaram uma intensa resposta inflamatória com maior número de granulomas e maior percentual de tecido fibroso. A resposta imune humoral específica para SEA mostrou-se alterada em animais desnutridos, que apresentaram níveis de anticorpos IgG1, IgG2b e IgG3 específicos contra SEA de 2 a 4 vezes mais baixos do que os níveis de camundongos eutróficos. Não foram observadas diferenças na produção de citocinas (IFN-y, IL-4 e IL-5) e na proliferação celular por esplenócitos obtidos dos dois grupos experimentais. Estes achados indicam que os camundongos desnutridos apresentam um perfil de resposta imune semelhante aos animais alimentados com dieta normoproteica, contudo os níveis de anticorpos mostraram-se estatisticamente inferiores nos animais alimentados com dieta hipoproteica. Alterações no desenvolvimento dos parasitos oriundos de hospedeiros desnutridos foram evidenciadas no sistema reprodutor dos machos, bem como na oviposição das femeas (redução). Estes resultados, permitem inferir que a baixa fecundidade dos parasitos e a presença de possíveis distúrbios na maturação desses ovos, decorrentes da deficiencia proteica, sao fundamentais na reação granulomatosa pouco intensa sem progressão para a fibrose periportal, observada nos animais desnutridos.