Trypanosoma evansi: Ca2+ ATPase activity and lipid peroxidation in skeletal muscle from rats experimentally infected

• Published in: Experimental parasitology Vol. 128; no. 4; pp. 377 - 381
• Main Authors: Tonin, Alexandre A., Da Silva, Aleksandro S., Carvalho, Nélson R., Jaques, Jeandre A.S., Thomé, Gustavo R., Bertoncheli, Claudia M., Schetinger, Maria Rosa C., Graça, Dominguita L., L. de Rue, Mario, Lopes, Sonia T.A., Monteiro, Silvia G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 01-08-2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: adenosinetriphosphatase; Biological and medical sciences; Ca super(2+)-transporting ATPase; Ca2+ATPase; Ca2-transporting ATPase; disease course; enzyme activity; enzyme inhibition; Enzymes; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; histopathology; Infection; Inflammation; Injuries; Leg; leg weakness; Leukocytes (mononuclear); Life cycle. Host-agent relationship. Pathogenesis; Lipid peroxidation; muscle fibers; muscles; Oxidative stress; parasitology; pathogenesis; Protozoa; rats; Skeletal muscle; thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances; Trypanosoma evansi; trypanosomiasis; Trypanosomosis; Ca2+ATPase; Lipid peroxidation; Trypanosomosis; Kinetoplastida; Protozoa; Rat; ATPase; Rodentia; Parasite; Activity; Lipids; Striated muscle; Trypanosoma evansi; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Ca; Peroxidation
• ISSN: 0014-4894; 1090-2449
• DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2011.05.004

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► Trypanosomosis is a disease caused by Trypanosoma evansi, commonly affects domestic and wild animals. ► Chronic infection can lead to paralysis of hind limbs, and the cause of clinical signs is not fully elucidated. ► The Ca2+ ATPase plays different functions in cells. ► Infected rats have reduced Ca2+ ATPase activity and increase the TBARS levels in the muscles. ► Inhibition of Ca2+ ATPase activity and oxidative stress may are related to the pathogenesis and locomotor disturbances.
The aim of this study was to evaluate Ca2+ ATPase activity and the lipid peroxidation in muscles from rats experimentally infected by Trypanosoma evansi and its roles in the muscle pathogenesis in trypanosomosis. Thirty-six rats were divided in two groups. Group A was infected with an isolate from T. evansi and group B was used as a negative control. Group A was divided into three subgroups (A1, A2 and A3), three animals each group, as well as group B (B1, B2 and B3). The collection of samples were performed at days 5 (A1 and B1), 15 (A2 and B2) and 30 (A3 and B3) post-infection (PI) with the purpose of comparison between healthy and infected rats in the course of the disease. The Ca2+ ATPase enzyme activity was determined in skeletal muscle samples. Muscle tissue lipid peroxidation was determined by TBARS levels, and histopathologically it was investigated a possible damage to the muscle tissue of rats infected with T. evansi. It was observed a significant decrease of Ca2+ ATPase activity in infected rats compared to not-infected. This enzymatic inhibition was observed at days 5, 15 and 30 PI. A significant increase was observed for TBARS levels in the muscles of infected rats at days 5, 15 and 30 PI. It was not identified any histological alterations for gastrocnemius in rats infected by T. evansi at days 5 and 15 PI. Nevertheless, at day 30 PI it was verified inflammatory infiltrate with mononuclear cells between muscle fibers in three infected rats (50%). T. evansi infections in rats showed a negative correlation between Ca2+ ATPase and TBARS levels. Based on these results we suggest that the leg weakness and muscle injuries common in infected animals with T. evansi may be related to a reduced activity of Ca2+ ATPase and oxidative stress.