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J Parasit Dis Diagn Ther 2017 | Volume 2 Issue 4
International Conference on
Zoology, Microbiology & Medical Parasitology
October 30-November 01, 2017 | Chicago, USA
Echocardiographic evaluation of the cardiovascular effects of DNA vaccines containing
Trypanosoma
cruzi
genes on dogs with experimental Chagas disease
Olivia Rodríguez-Morales
National Institute of Cardiology, Mexico
Statement of the Problem:
Chagas disease (ChD) is caused
by
Trypanosoma
cruzi. This Neglected Tropical Disease is also
considered as an emerging disease in the USA and Europe.
Two plasmids containing genes encoding a trans-sialidase
protein (TcSP) and an amastigote-specific glycoprotein
(TcSSP4) were studied previously as prophylactic and
therapeutic vaccines. Echocardiography is a valuable tool in
diagnosis and follow-up of patients with ChD. The purpose of
this study is to determine the prophylactic effect of
T. cruzi
genes on echocardiographical hemodynamic parameters in
chagasic dogs.
Methodology & Theoretical Orientation:
Dogs were
DNA-plasmid immunized and infected with metacyclic
trypomastigotes.
Doppler
echochardiography
were
performed before and 7-19 months after immunization and/
or infection in all dogs.
Findings:
All non-vaccinated dogs had fractional shortening
values decreased, suggesting an impairing in general
cardiac function. Differences in the left ventricular ejection
fraction values among infected and non-infected dogs
were demonstrated. Left ventricular diastolic and systolic
diameters were decreased in vaccinated dogs, therefore
protection of progressive heart damage or heart dilation
could be prevented. Systolic peak time was higher in
infected and mock-vaccinated/infected groups increasing
vulnerability to malignant arrhythmias and sudden death.
Left ventricular volumes were elevated in infected groups
suggesting a decrease in wall thickness that might lead to
increased size of the heart cavity except for the vaccinated
group with the plasmid that carried the TcSP gene.
Conclusions:
Experimental ChD in dogs causes cardiac
dilation,poorcontractibilityandheartfailure;thepathological
process can be diagnosed by echocardiography better than
other techiniques in the living patient. Properties of plasmid-
DNA vaccination with
T. cruzi
genes may be important in
the amelioration of
T. cruzi
-induced cardiomyopathy. Using
echocardiography, structural and functional changes in the
chagasic heart could be monitored easily and, this should be
the method of choice for characterizing the clinical stages
of ChD.
Speaker Biography
Olivia Rodríguez-Morales is researcher in medical sciences at the National Institute of
Cardiology, Ignacio Chávez in Mexico City, Mexico, where she conducts investigation
lines related to the study of the basis of molecular pathogenesis, diagnoses, prophylaxis
and therapy against
Trypanosoma cruzi
. Dr. Rodríguez-Morales is also professor in the
Autonomous National University of Mexico (UNAM) where she teaches “Veterinary
Cell Biology” and “Veterinary Bacteriology and Mycology” in the Faculty of Veterinary
Medicine and Zootechnics. She belongs to the National System of Researchers Level
1 in Mexico.
e:
rm.olivia@gmail.com