Biomolecular Changes and Cortical Neurodegenerative Lesions in Trichinella Spiralis Infected BALB/c Mice: A Preliminary Study Elucidating a Potential Relationship Between Systemic Helminthic Infections and Idiopathic Parkinson's

The neuroprotective potential of curcumin on T. Spiralis infected mice

BACKGROUND

Trichinella spiralis can affect the brain by inducing inflammatory and vascular changes. Drug management with the antiparasitic drug albendazole can be enhanced by natural compounds such as curcumin. The potential benefit of curcumin as an adjuvant to albendazole in the management of cerebral affection during experimental T. spiralis infection was evaluated. Animals received either curcumin 150 mg/Kg, albendazole 50 mg/Kg or a combination of both drugs. Animal groups receiving treatment were compared with infected and non-infected control groups. Blood levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and dopamine were measured, and brain tissue expression of cyclooxygenase-2 enzyme (COX-2) and CD34 was assessed by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

T. spiralis infection resulted in a state of oxidative stress, which was improved by albendazole and curcumin. Also, both drugs restored the peripheral dopamine level, which was decreased in infected non-treated mice. Curcumin was also found to be efficient in improving brain pathology and reducing local COX-2 and CD 34 expression.

CONCLUSIONS

Inflammatory and pathological changes during neurotrichinosis can be improved by the addition of curcumin to conventional anti-parasitic drugs.

A review on nonviral, nonbacterial infectious agents toxicity involved in neurodegenerative diseases

Neuronal death, decreased activity or dysfunction of neurotransmitters are some of the pathophysiological reasons for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and multiple sclerosis. Also, there is evidence for the role of infections and infectious agents in neurodegenerative diseases and the effect of some metabolites in microorganisms in the pathophysiology of these diseases. In this study, we intend to evaluate the existing studies on the role of infectious agents and their metabolites on the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases. PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar and Web of Science search engines were searched. Some infectious agents have been observed in neurodegenerative diseases. Also, isolations of some fungi and microalgae have an improving effect on Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

Probiotic Bacteria can Modulate Murine Macrophage's Superoxide Production in Trichinella Spiralis Infection

The effect of probiotic strains (Enterococcus faecium EF55, E. faecium CCM7420, E. faecium CCM8558, E. durans ED26E/7, Lactobacillus fermentum CCM7421, L. plantarum 17L/1) on the production of superoxide anion (O₂^-) in peritoneal macrophages of Trichinella spiralis infected mice was examined. E. faecium EF55 and E. faecium CCM8558 strains increased the O₂^-production prior to parasitic infection,at the day7of application.A significant inhibition of the O₂^- production caused by T. spiralis infection on day 5 post infection (p.i.) was prevented by all examined strains. Lactobacilli stimulated metabolic activity of macrophages during intestinal and early muscular phase (from day 5 to 25 p.i.) of trichinellosis. Enterococci increased the O₂^- production in early intestinal phase (day 5 p.i.) and during the muscular phase of trichinellosis (days 25 and 32 p.i.). Respected increase in macrophage’s metabolic activity induced by probiotic treatment in the intestinal phase of trichinellosis augmented the host antiparasite defence (damage and killing of newborn larvae with reactive oxygen species from macrophages).