The Medical Journal of Basrah University

Abstract

Objectives: This study was performed to determine the local (tissue) and systemic immune responses in
rats infected with Giardia lamblia.
Materials and methods: Rattus noruigicus rats aged 2 months were inoculated with 103 Giardia lablia cyst.
After 7 and 14 days of infection samples (blood and small intestine) collected from both control and infected rats.
Local immune response was assessed by counting the inflammatory cells in small intestine, mast cell number and
lymph node diameter. Whearas systemic immune response was carried out by measurement of total and differential
WBC count, phagocytic activity of polymphonuclear cells by NBT stain and histamine levels in blood plasma by
ELISA kit.
Results: Results showed an infiltration of inflammatory cells in all parts of small intestine and an increasing in
lymph nodules diameter. Also, there is an infiltration of mast cells. Results of systemic immune response revealed a
high significant differences in total and differential WBC count between two studied groups. Moreover, there was an
increasing in phogocytic activity of polymorphonuclear cells and histamine plasma levels.
Conclusion: Recent data indicated that there is a local and systemic immune response during acute phase of
Giardia lamblia infection in experimental animals.