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Fish oil protects rat erythrocytes against oxidative stress caused by Trypanosoma evansi infection

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Abstract

The effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids has been the subject of intense study in many diseases; meanwhile, our understanding regarding the underlying mechanisms of omega-3 fatty acids against Trypanosoma evansi infection is still limited. A common feature of T. evansi infection is anemia. Erythrophagocytosis occurs due to direct traumatic actions of protozoa on the red blood cells, but the exact mechanisms of anemia are not yet fully understood. During infection, there is an increase in reactive oxygen species; some are highly toxic and rapidly detoxified by various cellular enzymatic and nonenzymatic mechanisms. For this purpose, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of fish oil (rich in omega-3) in protecting erythrocyte membranes from oxidative stress during experimental infection with T. evansi. For that, levels of membrane lipid peroxidation were analyzed and the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase, and catalase were also investigated. The level of lipid peroxidation increased in infected rats compared with the control, and differences were found in infected rats supplemented with fish oil 30 days before infection when compared with infected rats supplemented with fish oil after infection. Only the activity of GPx was changed in infected groups with a significantly reduced (p < 0.05) T. evansi-infected rats were treated for 30 days with fish oil (2 g/kg/day) before infection. The results suggest that the fish oil supplementation probably acts as a prophylactic treatment of T. evansi experimental infections in rats.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnólogico-CNPq (grant number 578122/2008-1 ), Fundação de amparo a Pesquisa e Inovação do Estado de Santa Catarina-FAPESC (grant number 15969/2009-7), and Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina. The first author was a fellowship from Secretaria de Educação do Estado de Santa Catarina.

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  1. Laboratório de Bioquímica de Hemoparasitas e Vetores – LABHEV, Departamento de Produção Animal e Alimentos, Centro de Ciências Agroveterinárias, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Avenida Luiz de Camões, n° 2090, Bairro Conta Dinheiro, Lages, SC, 88520-000, Brazil

    Valesca Anschau, Mayara Vieira Tizatto & Luiz Claudio Miletti

  2. Laboratório de Atividade Biológica de Substâncias, Universidade do Oeste de Santa Catarina, Bairro Camobi – Prédio 20, Sala 4232, Joaçaba, SC, 89600-000, Brazil

    Maiara Anschau Floriani

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  1. Valesca Anschau
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  2. Maiara Anschau Floriani
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  3. Mayara Vieira Tizatto
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  4. Luiz Claudio Miletti
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Correspondence to Luiz Claudio Miletti.

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All procedures performed in studies involving animals were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institution or practice at which the studies were conducted.

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Anschau, V., Floriani, M.A., Tizatto, M.V. et al. Fish oil protects rat erythrocytes against oxidative stress caused by Trypanosoma evansi infection. Comp Clin Pathol 26, 625–630 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-017-2433-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-017-2433-3

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