Could ultrasonography be a reliable noninvasive method to follow experimental cystic echinococcosis in mice?

ELISSONDO CELINA; PATRICIA E PENSEL

Simposio; Reunión conjunta SAIC, SAIC, SAFE, AACyTAL, NANOMED-ar, HCS 2019; 2019

The metacestode Echinococcus granulosus causes hydatidosis or cystic echinococcosis (CE) in humans and livestock. Hydatidosis is characterized by the presence of cysts in different organs and tissues, but liver and lungs being the main locations. The search for therapeutic alternatives to optimize the treatment of CE is performed at two levels: in vitro on the larval stage and in vivo in mice infected intraperitoneally with E. granulosus protoscoleces. In the current murine model of CE, the cysts are located in the peritoneal cavity. In order to establish a new murine model presenting similar characteristics to the disease in humans, we infected CF-1 mice via the portal vein. In this new model, the cysts developed in the orthotopic and primary infection organ. In an attempt to apply to the 3Rs principle, we used ultrasonography to monitor the development, the growth and the localization of the cysts in the liver of infected mice. In this presentation, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of ultrasonography to follow the experimental hepatic CE in mice.