Granulopoiesis during acute Toxoplasma gondii infection in mice

Abstract

There is little evidence for the role of granulocytes in the host defence against the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Thus, the purpose of this study was to assess the involvement of granulocytes during acute murine infection with the parasite virulent RH strain. Since, all infected animals succumb to infection in a dose-dependent period of time, the effect of two parasite doses, 2x10(2) and 2x10(6), on granulocytis cell compartments in the bone marrow and peripheral blood up to 2 or 6 days post infection, respectively, was investigated. The data obtained revealed that granulocytic cells at various stages of differentiation and maturation were affected by T.gondii infection regardless of the dose applied. The observed oscillating changes in the number of cells in granulocytic proliferative and nonproliferative compartments imply that parallel with T.gondii-induced damage to granulocytic cells, a process of stimulated production of granulocytes occurred. Although some differences in the kinetics of cellular changes and in the extent of cell damage were found similar reactivity patterns of granulocytic cells were seen following infection with both doses. Our results demonstrated significant changes in granulopoiesis during T.gondii infection, suggesting a possible contribution of granulocytes to parasite control.