The Experimental Infections of the Human Isolate of Strongyloides Stercoralis in a Rodent Model (The Mongolian Gerbil, Meriones Unguiculatus)

Abstract

Strongyloidiasis is life-threatening disease which is mainly caused by Strongyloides stercoralis infection. Autoinfection of the parasite results in long-lasting infection and fatal conditions, hyperinfection and dissemination (primarily in immunosuppressed hosts). However, mechanisms of autoinfection and biology remain largely unknown. Rodent models including mice and rats are not susceptible to the human isolate of S. stercoralis. Variations in susceptibility of the human isolate of S. stercoralis are found in dogs. S. ratti and S. venezuelensis infections in rats are an alternative model without the ability to cause autoinfection. The absence of appropriate model for the human isolate of strongyloidiasis hampers a better understanding of human strongyloidiasis. We demonstrated the maintenance of the human isolate of the S. stercoralis life cycle in the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus). The human isolate of S. stercoralis caused a patent infection in immunosuppressed gerbils, more than 18 months. The mean number of recovery adult parasitic worms were 120 ± 23 (1.2% of the initial dose) and L1s were 12,500 ± 7,500 after day 28 post-inoculation (p.i.). The prepatent period was 9–14 days. Mild diarrhoea was found in gerbils carrying a high number of adult parasitic worms. Our findings provided a promising model for studying biology and searching new alternative drugs against the parasites. Further studies about the hyperinfection and dissemination would be performed.