Dietary lipids containing gangliosides reduceGiardia murisinfectionin vivoand survival ofGiardia lambliatrophozoitesin vitro

Abstract

We examined whether a ganglioside supplemented diet affected the course ofGiardia murisinfection in mice and survival ofGiardia lambliatrophozoitesin vitro. Female CD-1 mice were fed 1 of 5 experimental diets: standard lab chow as a control diet; semi-synthetic diets containing 20% (w/w) triglyceride based on the fat composition of a conventional infant formula; triglyceride diet; triglyceride diet containing a low level of ganglioside (0·1% w/w); and triglyceride diet containing a high level of ganglioside (1·0% w/w of diet). After 2 weeks of feeding, mice were inoculated withG. murisby gastric intubation and fed the experimental diets during the course of the infection. Cysts released in the faeces and trophozoites present in the small intestine were enumerated at various times post-infection. The average cyst output and the number of trophozoites during the course of the infection in mice fed ganglioside-containing diet were found to be significantly lower (3-log10reduction) compared to animals fed control diets. The results ofin vitrogrowth studies indicated that gangliosides may be directly toxic to the parasites. Thus, gangliosides have a protective effect againstG. murisinfectionin vivoand affect the survival ofG. lambliatrophozoitesin vitro.