Alterations in blood glucose concentration in wild rodents, Holochilus sciureus, naturally infected with Schistosoma mansoni

• Autor(a) principal: Rodrigues,João Gustavo Mendes
• Data de Publicação: 2022
• Outros Autores: Lira,Maria Gabriela Sampaio, Nogueira,Ranielly Araújo, Gomes,Gleycka Cristine Carvalho, Licá,Irlla Correia Lima, Silva,Jeferson Kelvin Alves de Oliveira, Miranda,Guilherme Silva, Silva-Souza,Nêuton
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária (Online)
• Texto Completo: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1984-29612022000200300
• topic: Schistosomiasis; wild reservoir; glycemic homeostasis; liver pathology

Abstract The present study aimed to evaluate the changes in peripheral blood glucose concentrations induced by Schistosoma mansoni infection in Holochilus sciureus rodents, a wild reservoir of the parasite. Glucose concentration was measured in the plasma of blood samples using a colorimetric enzymatic test. Biological parameters and S. mansoni burden in each rodent were also verified and correlated with glucose concentrations. A total of 76 H. sciureus were captured, out of which 20 (26%) were infected with S. mansoni (n=13 males and n=7 females). Although the parasite burden was comparable between the sexes, blood glucose concentration was lower in infected males and almost unchanged in females. Furthermore, histopathological data revealed that male rodents had a greater hepatic granulomatous inflammatory reaction than females. In addition, we also confirmed that the weight and total length of the analyzed animals had no effect on glucose levels. Therefore, natural infection with S. mansoni in H. sciureus may have a lower impact on glycemic homeostasis in females, which will help us understand the role of these rodents as reservoirs of S. mansoni.