Serial magnetic resonance imaging of splenomegaly in the Trypanosoma brucei infected mouse

Paterson, S., Holmes, W. and Rodgers, J. (2022) Serial magnetic resonance imaging of splenomegaly in the Trypanosoma brucei infected mouse. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 16(12), e0010962. (doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010962) (PMID:36477669) (PMCID:PMC9728833)

Abstract

Splenomegaly, an enlargement of the spleen, is a known clinical sign of the parasitic disease, human African trypanosomiasis. This study follows the development of splenomegaly in a group of mice over multiple infection points, using a non-invasive imaging modality, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). CD-1 mice infected with GVR35 T.b. brucei demonstrated a significant increase in spleen size from day 7 post-infection, with changes in the spleen tracked in individual animals over five time points. At the final time point, the mean spleen weight calculated using the spleen volume from the MR images was compared with the post-mortem gross spleen weight. No significant difference was detected between the two methods (1.62 ± 0.06g using MRI and 1.51 ± 0.04g gross weight, p = 0.554). Haematology and histological analysis were also performed, giving additional insight into splenomegaly for the GVR35 strain of infection. The study demonstrates that MRI is a useful tool when examining changes in organ volume throughout HAT infection and may be applicable in the investigation of a range of conditions where changes in organ volume occur and MRI has not been used previously.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Rodgers, Dr Jean and Holmes, Dr William
• Authors: Paterson, S., Holmes, W., and Rodgers, J.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Psychology & Neuroscience
• Journal Name: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
• Publisher: Public Library of Science
• ISSN: 1935-2727
• ISSN (Online): 1935-2735
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 Paterson et al
• First Published: First published in PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 16(12):e0010962
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons license

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
190906		EPSRC 2015 DTP	Mary Beth Kneafsey	Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)	EP/M508056/1	Research and Innovation Services