Experimental Infection with Foodborne Parasite (Trichinella spiralis) Induced Damage and Apoptosis in Rat Skeletal Muscle Fibers

Aims: Apoptosis, a type of host-cell death, frequently causes tissue damage in the deaths caused by parasite infections. Current study aimed to study the histopathological and Immunohistochemical changes in rats skeletal muscles after experimental trichinellosis infection.

Methodology: A total of 20 male rats (Sprague Dawley) were divided into 2 groups (Negative control and positive control or Infected). At the end of the experiment; skeletal muscles fron control and infected rats were fixed in 10% formalin and examined for histopathological changes using haematoxylin and eosin stains and Immunohistochemical changes against a poptotic P53 proteins and anti-apoptotic Bcl2 immunoreactivities.

Results: Current results revealed that; diffuse degenerative changes all over the muscle fibers with massive numbers of T. spiralis encysted larvae that surrounded by a collagen capsule and mild inflammatory cellular infiltration in addition to elevation in apoptotic P53 proteins and reduction in anti-apoptotic Bcl2 in addition to muscle muscles injury.

Conclusion: It can conclude that; experimental infection with Trichinella spiralis can induce damage and apoptosis in rat skeletal muscle fibers.