Korean J Parasitol.  2013 Feb;51(1):69-74. 10.3347/kjp.2013.51.1.69.

The Route of Leishmania tropica Infection Determines Disease Outcome and Protection against Leishmania major in BALB/c Mice

• Mahmoudzadeh-Niknam H
• Khalili G
• Abrishami
• Najafy A
• Khaze V

• KMID: 1501812
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2013.51.1.69

Abstract

Leishmania tropica is one of the causative agents of leishmaniasis in humans. Routes of infection have been reported to be an important variable for some species of Leishmania parasites. The role of this variable is not clear for L. tropica infection. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of route of L. tropica infection on the disease outcome and immunologic parameters in BALB/c mice. Two routes were used; subcutaneous in the footpad and intradermal in the ear. Mice were challenged by Leishmani major, after establishment of the L. tropica infection, to evaluate the level of protective immunity. Immune responses were assayed at week 1 and week 4 after challenge. The subcutaneous route in the footpad in comparison to the intradermal route in the ear induced significantly more protective immunity against L. major challenge, including higher delayed-type hypersensitivity responses, more rapid lesion resolution, lower parasite loads, and lower levels of IL-10. Our data showed that the route of infection in BALB/c model of L. tropica infection is an important variable and should be considered in developing an appropriate experimental model for L. tropica infections.

Keyword

Leishmania tropica; Leishmania major; intradermal; subcutaneous; immunity; disease outcome

MeSH Terms

Animals
Disease Models, Animal
Female
Leishmania major/*immunology
Leishmania tropica/*immunology/*pathogenicity
Leishmaniasis/*immunology/parasitology/*pathology
Mice
Mice, Inbred BALB C
Treatment Outcome