Penetration of equine leukocytes by merozoites of Sarcocystis neurona

Veterinary Parasitology
David S LindsaySharon G Witonsky

Abstract

Horses are considered accidental hosts for Sarcocystis neurona and they often develop severe neurological disease when infected with this parasite. Schizont stages develop in the central nervous system (CNS) and cause the neurological lesions associated with equine protozoal myeloencephalitis. The present study was done to examine the ability of S. neurona merozoites to penetrate and develop in equine peripheral blood leukocytes. These infected host cells might serve as a possible transport mechanism into the CNS. S. neurona merozoites penetrated equine leukocytes within 5 min of co-culture. Infected leukocytes were usually monocytes. Infected leukocytes were present up to the final day of examination at 3 days. Up to three merozoites were present in an infected monocyte. No development to schizont stages was observed. All stages observed were in the host cell cytoplasm. We postulate that S. neurona merozoites may cross the blood brain barrier hidden inside leukocytes. Once inside the CNS these merozoites can egress and invade additional cells and cause encephalitis.

References

Aug 18, 2000·Veterinary Parasitology·D S LindsayB L Blagburn
Feb 24, 2001·The Journal of Parasitology·J P DubeyS M Reed
Feb 27, 2001·Veterinary Parasitology·J P DubeyC A Speer
Feb 27, 2001·Veterinary Parasitology·C A Speer, J P Dubey
Apr 18, 2001·International Journal for Parasitology·M A CheadleE C Greiner
Jun 14, 2001·International Journal for Parasitology·M A CheadleE C Greiner
Aug 14, 2002·Experimental Parasitology·Maureen T LongDebra C Sellon
Aug 21, 2003·American Journal of Veterinary Research·Sharon WitonskyS Ansar Ahmed
Sep 11, 2004·Current Opinion in Microbiology·Timothy Dowse, Dominique Soldati
Nov 13, 2004·Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology·Debra C SellonJohn B Dame
Mar 9, 2005·Molecular Microbiology·Vern B Carruthers, Michael J Blackman

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations


❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Aminoglycosides

Aminoglycoside is a medicinal and bacteriologic category of traditional Gram-negative antibacterial medications that inhibit protein synthesis and contain as a portion of the molecule an amino-modified glycoside. Discover the latest research on aminoglycoside here.

Aminoglycosides (ASM)

Aminoglycoside is a medicinal and bacteriologic category of traditional Gram-negative antibacterial medications that inhibit protein synthesis and contain as a portion of the molecule an amino-modified glycoside. Discover the latest research on aminoglycoside here.

Blood Brain Barrier Chips

The blood brain barrier (BBB) is comprised of endothelial cells that regulate the influx and outflux of plasma concentrations. Lab-on-a-chip devices allow scientists to model diseases and mechanisms such as the passage of therapeutic antibodies across the BBB. Discover the latest research on BBB chips here.

Blood Brain Barrier

The blood brain barrier is a border that separates blood from cerebrospinal fluid. Discover the latest search on this highly selective semipermeable membrane here.