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Experimental infection of Leishmania (Mundinia) martiniquensis in BALB/c mice and Syrian golden hamsters

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Abstract

Our objective was to investigate clinical progression, presence of parasites and DNAs, parasite loads, and histological alterations in BALB/c mice and Syrian golden hamsters after intraperitoneal inoculation with Leishmania (Mundinia) martiniquensis promastigotes with a goal to choosing an appropriate animal model for visceral leishmaniasis. Infections were monitored for 16 weeks. Infected BALB/c mice were asymptomatic during the infection course. Parasite DNAs were detected in the liver at week 8 of infection, followed by clearance in most animals at week 16; whereas in the spleen, parasite DNAs were detected until week 16. These results are correlated to those obtained measuring parasite loads in both organs. No parasite DNA and no alteration in the bone marrow were observed indicating that no dissemination occurred. These results suggest the control of visceralization of L. martiniquensis by BALB/c mice. In hamsters, weight loss, cachexia, and fatigue were observed after week 11. Leishmania martiniquensis parasites were observed in tissue smears of the liver, spleen, and bone marrow by week 16. Parasite loads correlated with those from the presence of parasites and DNAs in the examined tissues. Alterations in the liver with nuclear destruction and cytoplasmic degeneration of infected hepatocytes, presence of inflammatory infiltrates, necrosis of hepatocytes, and changes in splenic architecture and reduction and deformation of white pulp in the spleen were noted. These results indicate a chronic form of visceral leishmaniasis indicating that the hamster is a suitable animal model for the study of pathological features of chronic visceral leishmaniasis caused by L. martiniquensis.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Prof. Dr. Padet Siriyasatein and Assist. Prof. Dr. Woraporn Sukhumavasi for their suggestion in the route of experimental infection.

Funding

This research work was supported by the Thailand Research Fund through the Royal Golden Jubilee Ph.D. Program (grant number: PHD/0100/2557 to NJ for NI), the Faculty of Medicine Endowment Fund (grant number: 161-2561 to NJ) from the Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University and Global Partnership Fund year 2020, supported by The Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI) (grant number 2563 subproject to NJ).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate PhD Degree Program in Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand

    Nuchpicha Intakhan

  2. School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Nakhonsithammarat, 80161, Thailand

    Nuchpicha Intakhan & Wetpisit Chanmol

  3. Animal House Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand

    Apisek Kongkaew

  4. Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand

    Pradya Somboon & Narissara Jariyapan

  5. Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK

    Michelle D. Bates & Paul A. Bates

  6. Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand

    Narissara Jariyapan

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  1. Nuchpicha Intakhan
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  2. Wetpisit Chanmol
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  4. Pradya Somboon
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  5. Michelle D. Bates
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  7. Narissara Jariyapan
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Contributions

NJ conceived and designed study. NI, WC, and AK performed research. NJ, NI, PS, and MDB analyzed data. NJ, NI, and PAB wrote the paper. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Narissara Jariyapan.

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Section Editor: Nawal Hijjawi

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Intakhan, N., Chanmol, W., Kongkaew, A. et al. Experimental infection of Leishmania (Mundinia) martiniquensis in BALB/c mice and Syrian golden hamsters. Parasitol Res 119, 3041–3051 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-020-06842-w

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