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Oral contraceptive pills: Risky or protective in case of Trichinella spiralis infection?
Author(s) -
Hasby Saad M. A.,
Radi D. A.,
Hasby E. A.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
parasite immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1365-3024
pISSN - 0141-9838
DOI - 10.1111/pim.12444
Subject(s) - trichinella spiralis , biology , physiology , immune system , trichinella , pill , immunology , andrology , helminths , medicine , pharmacology
Summary The aim of this study was to investigate how Trichinella spiralis infection can be affected by contraceptive pills in vivo. Methods included six groups of female Wistar rats; healthy, Trichinella infected, receiving combined contraceptive pills (COCPs), receiving progestin only pills (POPs), infected receiving COCPs and infected receiving POPs. Parasite burden was measured; adult worm counts, gravidity, larvae and reproductive capacity index). Histopathological examination, immunohistochemical detection of C‐kit+ mast cells and Foxp3+ T‐reg. cells in intestinal sections, eosinophils muscle infiltration and CPK level were performed. Rats infected and receiving COCPs showed a significant increase in parasitic burden, and infected receiving POPs showed a significant reduction compared to infected only, with a significant increase in nongravid females (Mean total worms=964.40±55.9, 742±52.63, 686±31.68, larvae/g=5030±198.75, 2490±143.18 and 4126±152,91, respectively). Intestinal sections from infected receiving COCPs showed intact mucosa (though the high inflammatory cells infiltrate), and significant increase in C‐kit+ mast cells number and intensity (30.20±4.15 and 60.40±8.29), and Foxp3+ T‐reg. cells (10±1.58). Infected receiving POPs showed a significantly less CPK (5886±574.40) and eosinophilic muscle infiltration (58±13.51). Oestrogen‐containing pills established a favourable intestinal environment for Trichinella by enhancing Foxp+T‐reg. cells and stabilizing C‐kit+mast cells, while POPs gave a potential protection with less gravidity, larval burden and eosinophilic infiltrate.