2 research outputs found
Interactions between Babesia microti merozoites and rat kidney cells in a short-term in vitro culture and animal model
Babesiosis is one of the most common infections in free-living animals and is rapidly becoming
significant among human zoonoses. Cases of acute renal failure in humans caused by Babesia spp.
have been described in the literature. The kidneys are characterised by intense blood flow through
the blood vessels, which increases the likelihood of contact with the intra-erythrocyte parasite. The
aim of this study was to observe the influence of B. microti (ATCC 30221) on renal epithelial cells
in vitro cultured (NRK-52E line) and Wistar rats’ kidney. Both NRK-52E cells and rats’ kidney sections
were analysed by light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and fluorescence in situ
hybridization (FISH). Necrotic changes in renal epithelial cells have been observed in vitro and in vivo.
In many cross-sections through the rats’ kidney, adhesion of blood cells to the vascular endothelium,
accumulation of erythrocytes and emboli were demonstrated. In NRK-52E culture, elements with a
distinctly doubled cell membrane resembling B. microti were found inside the cytoplasm and adjacent
to the cell layer. The study indicates a chemotactic tendency for B. microti to adhere to the renal
tubules’ epithelium, a possibility of piroplasms entering the renal epithelial cells, their proliferation
within the cytoplasm and emboli formation
Rat spleen in the course of Babesia microti invasion: histological and submicroscopic studies
The course of babesiosis in humans is characterized by various intensity levels − from a subclinical level to the severe one − associated
with multiple organ failure, which leads to death. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of 21-day and 6-month invasion
of B. microti on Wistar rats spleen. Histological changes in the rats’ spleen were characterized by swelling of splenic tissue, especially the
tissue adjacent to the capsule. In the structure of the white pulp in some rats, high concentrations of lymphocytes occurred. The boundary
between the white pulp and red pulp was blurred. In the red pulp structure of rats, a lot of macrophages and extracellular deposits of
bilirubin were present. The submicroscopic studies showed that the nuclear matrix was slightly shrunken. In the red pulp fragments of the
damaged cells were located in the intercellular spaces. Near these areas, many thrombocytes were visible. The ultrastructural observation
also revealed thickened endoplasmic reticulum membranes, local cellular swelling filled with amorphous substance, and digested erythrocytes.
B. microti invasion affects the splenic morphology and ultrastructure in rats. The immunological hyperactivity and signs of inflammation
indicate an important role of spleen in a fight against parasites