Effect Of Plasmodium Berghei Parasitaemia On Laboratory Induced Gastric Ulcer In Mice

Abstract

Background: Malaria is an important infection in Africa affecting all age groups although its severity depends on the relative immunity of the individual. Malaria has been found to have effects on the gastric mucosa, which include congestion with capillary stasis, necrosis, ulceration and haemorrhage. This study aimed at the effect of malaria parasitaemia on laboratory induced gastric ulcer in mice.
Methods: Thirty-six mice divided into 6 groups thus: Group 1. no malaria parasite and ulcer (control); Group 2. Parasite without ulcer; Group 3. Parasite and ulcer; Group 4. Ulcer without parasite; Group 5. Parasite, ulcer and chloroquine treatment; and Grop 6. Parasite,
ulcer and Artemether treatment. These were used for the study. The mice were parasitized with 20% innoculum of Plasmodium berghei and ulcer induced with 70% alcohol and pylorus ligation. Parameters such as degree of parasitization, ulcer diameter, gastric
acidity and packed cell volume (PCV) were measured in the various groups and comparison made where necessary. The experimental part of the study took 18 days.
Results: The severity of ulceration in the group with ulcer and parasite (11 ± 1.72 mm); and group with ulcer but no parasite (3.62 ± 1.6mm) was compared and was significant (p = 0.002). The groups with parasite showed gradual reduction in the packed cell volume (PCV) as the parasite load increased while the group without parasite showed increase in PCV over the time of study. The ulcer diameters in the groups treated with chloroquine (4.83 ± 2.48mm) and Artemether (5.00 ± 0.89) was not statistically significant (p = 0.889). The restoration of PCV was better for the treated group than the untreated group. The pH of the gastric content in the untreated group was lower than the treated groups. The parasite clearance by chloroquine and artemether was significant (p = 0.04) compared to the untreated groups.
Conclusion: Malaria parasitaemia has a significant influence on gastric ulceration, PCV and to some extent gastric secretion. Chloroquine and artemether are sensitive drugs to Plasmodium berghei.