Effect of immunomodulation on the course of experimental toxocara canis in mice

ABSTRACT

Immunosuppressed groups treated with cortisone showed fulmination of Toxocara canis infection in terms of significant increase in brain parasitism, total larval count and significant decrease in the percentage reduction of the total count. Suppression of the host inflammatory responses was detected in the liver, lungs, brain and muscles. Accelerated transit of larvae through the liver was observed when cortisone was given before infection. Whether BCG was given before or after infection, it showed no significant changes regarding all criteria compared with the control group. Induction of diabetes, whether before of after infection, led to persistence of larvae in the liver, insignificant increase in brain and total larval parasitism and insignificant decrease in the percentage reduction of the total count