Efeito da dexametasona no trânsito gastrintestinal de camundongos Balb/C infectados por Strongyloides venezuelensis

Abstract

Strongyloidiasis is a disease caused by an intestinal nematode helminth that has an imprecise prevalence and can be fatal in immunosuppressed individuals. This study aimed to verify the effects of dexamethasone on gastrointestinal (GI) transit and on the number of eggs per gram of feces in BALB/c mice infected with Strongyloides venezuelensis. Adult male mice were randomly divided into two groups: Sv (n=7) and Sv + Dexa (n=7) that received a parasite load of 1500 L3 larvae. Daily, egg counts per gram of feces (OPG) were performed, while the mean gastrointestinal transit was assessed on the 7th day after infection (dpi) using the Alternating Current Biosusceptometry (BAC) technique. Data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD) and analyzed by t-Student test with statistical significance limit up to 5% (p < 0.05). The peak of infection occurred at 7 dpi with self-resolution in the group infected without the drug. The daily administration of 2mg/kg of dexamethasone in BALB/c mice infected with Strongyloides venezuelensis increased the number of eggs per gram of feces at the peak of infection (p<0.5), as well as interfered with the process of self-resolution common to rodents. In addition, the drug slowed the mean GI transit time (p<0.05), once again favoring the parasites by interfering with one of the biological mechanisms of expulsion. The slowing of the GI transit caused by the administration of DEXA creates favorable conditions for the development of hyperinfection syndrome and larval dissemination and needs to be better investigated so that new therapeutic approaches can be applied in the clinic.