Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis Infection Impairs Reproductive Parameters of Female Mice

SÁNCHEZ MARÍA BELÉN; GERMANÓ MARÍA JOSÉ ; MACKERN-OBERTI JUAN PABLO; SALOMON MARÍA CRISTINA; GINEVRO PAULA MARÍA; CARGNELUTTI DIEGO ESTEBAN

Otro; Reunión Científica Anual de la Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo; 2016

Leishmaniasis is a group of parasitic zoonotic diseases caused by intracellular protozoa of the genus Leishmania. In Argentina,the transmission of cutaneous leishmaniasis has increased in intensity and frequency of cases since 1980. Although informationexists about the great diversity of its clinical manifestations, little is known about the effects of this parasitosis on reproductiveparameters and pregnancy of infected humans and pets. It is believed that there is an increase in the severity of the disease duringpregnancy due to a change from a resistant immune response (Th1 profile) to a susceptible profile (Th2 response). The objectiveof this study is therefore to evaluate the influence of leishmaniasis on reproductive parameters and to describe the clinical signs itproduces during pregnancy using a murine model. A control group of female BALB/c mice (n=8) and a group infected with L.(L.) amazonensis (n=16) were mated with healthy males. Body mass of both groups was registered and a clinical monitoring ofinjuries was made during the pre-gestation and gestation periods. Females were euthanized before delivery. Five embryonicresorptions and a fetal death were observed in the infected group. Furthermore, a decrease in the fertility rate was registered in theinfected group (37.5%) compared to the uninfected control group (87.5%). The body mass of offspring from infected mothers wassignificantly lower than that of the healthy group (p=0.004). In conclusion, this study suggests that cutaneous leishmaniasis causesa decrease in fertility rates and body mass of fetuses, as well as fetal death and embryonic resorptions. The next step of the projectwill be to evaluate transplacental transmission of cutaneous leishmaniasis.