The intraperitoneal inoculation of Lactobacillus casei in mice induces total protection against Trichinella spiralis infection at low challenge doses.

The following effects of Lactobacillus casei in NIH mice were evaluated: the establishment of Trichinella spiralis adult worms in the intestine (AWI), larvae per gram of muscle tissue (LPG), levels of IgG and IgA, and levels of IL-4 and IFN-γ. One hundred and eight mice were allocated at random into 18 groups of six mice each. Each mouse in treated or non-treated groups was inoculated intraperitoneally once a week during 6 weeks with L. casei or phosphate-buffered solution. Later each mouse was challenged either with 200, 50, or 25 T. spiralis infective larvae. When the infection dose was 200 T. spiralis infective larvae, the reductions in AWI were 78.6% at 4 days after infection (dai) and 76.7% at 10 dai; while the reduction of LPG was 80.9% with respect to control groups. When the infection dose was 50 or 25 T. spiralis infective larvae, the reductions of AWI were 100% both at 4 and 10 dai; while the reduction of LPG at 30 dai was also 100% with respect to control groups. The levels of IgG and IgA anti-T. spiralis and IL-4 were significantly higher (P < 0.01) at 4 and 10 dai in mice from groups treated with L. casei than in animals in control groups; while at 10 dai, the levels of IFN-γ were higher in control mice (P < 0.01) than in L. casei-treated animals. The results suggest that frequent treatment of mice with L. casei induces a total protection against infection with low doses of T. spiralis.