Pathological study of genitourinary invasion by Aspergillus flavus in male rats

Abstract

Due to the widespread of A. flavus spores and the high risk of its mycotoxins in our environment, we investigated the pathological effects of A. flavus on genitourinary system in experimental rats using a whole sonicated antigen (WSA), and modified mycotoxin (mycotoxoid) in the immunization process. Fifty albino male rats were involved, subdivided into five group, each group of 10 male rats. Group one as a negative control received phosphate buffer saline, group two as a positive control received a challenge dose of 1×10 6 /0.5ml viable conidia/rat, while group three was immunized by a mixture of WSA and mycotoxoid, G4 was immunized by WSA alone, and G5 was immunized by mycotoxoid alone. The immunization was performed in two doses with 2 weeks interval. The results showed a high immune response (in group three G3) stimulated by the mixture (WSA and mycotoxoid), which revealed a significant increase in both IL-17 and IFN-γ. After experimental infection, the sero-analysis showed a significant increase in IL-17 and IFN-γ serum levels compared with the mixture-immunized group which showed no significant increases. In addition, the histopathologic sections illustrated severe chronic inflammation with a typical fungal granulomatous reaction in the prostate glands and kidneys compared with the WSA-immunized groups which showed mild histological reactions. Finally, we conclude that A. flavus is a serious opportunistic pathogen that can disseminate into genitourinary organs inducing severe pathologic lesions and even death. Moreover, we found that immunization by WSA and mycotoxoid can significantly reduce both immune and histopathological effects of A. flavus and its mycotoxins.