Evaluation of the acute oral toxicity of the fungus Duddingtonia flagrans at the gut level

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to perform the histopathological and enzymatic evaluation of the intestines of Swiss mice infected with Strongyloides venezuelensis after oral administration of the fungus Duddingtonia flagrans (AC001). Twenty mice were used, all previously dewormed and kept in individual cages with granulated feed and drinking water provided ad libitum. After this period, the animals were randomly divided into four experimental groups: Group 1 (animals infected with 700 L3 of S. venezuelensis), Group 2 (animals infected with 700 L3 of S. venezuelensis + orally treated with 500 chlamydospores and 500 conidia of AC001), Group 3 (animals not infected with L3 from S. venezuelensis + orally treated with 500 chlamydospores and 500 conidia from AC001) and Group 4, control (uninfected and untreated animals with chlamydospores and AC001 conidia). After that, all animals were euthanized and necropsied. Intestinal tissue collections were intended for histopathology and enzymatic quantification of Eosinophilic Peroxidase (EPO) and Myeloperoxidase (MPO). At the end of the trial, the results showed that there was no change and/or destruction of the intestinal microvilli in the groups (G2 and G3) that received orally chlamydospores/conidia of AC001. Oral treatments with AC001 did not induce any significant increase in EPO and MPO levels in the experimental groups (G2 and G3), when compared to the control group G4 (p < 0.05). It was concluded that the fungus D. flagrans (AC001) did not cause changes in the intestinal microvilli, nor did it interfere in the levels of EOP and MPO.