Impact of a previous infection with Taenia crassiceps cysticerci on the susceptibility to Leishmania (L.) major or L. (V.) braziliensis

Abstract

The development of leishmaniasis depends on the ability of Leishmania to invade and survive within macrophages. Macrophages can either promote parasite elimination or support its survival, depending on whether they are classically (M1) or alternatively (M2) activated. Mice chronically infected with Taenia crassiceps cysticerci (TC) develop a predominantly Th2 immune response, which leads to an increased number of M2 macrophages. In this study, we assessed the susceptibility of BALB/c mice previously infected with TC to Leishmania (V.) braziliensis or Leishmania (L.) major. Mice were first inoculated intraperitoneally with TC and after eight weeks infected either L. (V.) braziliensis or L. (L.) major in the paw. We evaluated footpad swelling and parasite load in different organs. We also assessed parasite load in vitro at 3 h, 3, 6, and 9 days; nitric oxide (NO) production, and arginase activity. Macrophages obtained from TC-infected mice (TcMΦ) were more susceptible to L. (V.) braziliensis infection, maintaining a stable parasite load without significant proliferation, while the parasite was killed in thioglycolate-elicited macrophages (TgMΦ). In contrast, L. (L.) major proliferated intensely in TcMΦ, leading to a higher parasite load compared to TgMΦ. In vivo, infection with L. (V.) braziliensis in TC-coinfected mice did not alter the parasite load compared to the group without cysticerci. However, mice infected with L. (L.) major exhibited greater swelling and higher parasite burdens. These findings suggest that infection with TC modulates the immune response of mice but is unable to render resistant mice susceptible to L. (V.) braziliensis.