Immune Response of E. cuniculi Infected Mice to Aflatoxin B₁

Abstract

The immunomodulatory effects of aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) on mice experimentally infected with Encephalitozoon cuniculi (E. cuniculi) were studied. Mice inoculated intraperitoneally with spores of E. cuniculi drank a daily solution of AFB₁ (0.2 mg kg⁻¹ of body weight) for 27 days. Application of AFB₁ to mice demonstrated a decrease of immunocompetent cells. On the other hand, the mice infected with E. cuniculi and given AFB₁ showed significant increased number of both monocytes and CD8+ T cells, and tendency to a decrease in CD4+ T cells. Aflatoxin B₁ revealed to merely modulate systemic immune response of E. cuniculi infected mice.