Immunohistochemical and Pathological Study of the Lung of Rat Infected by Angiostrongylus cantonensis

Objective To study the pathological changes and immunohistochemical study of the lung of rat infected by Anglostrongylus cantonensis.Method 20 rats were infected with Angiostrongylus cantonensis,and then observe the morphological damages and the immunoreactivity in the lung by histological methods and immunochemical analysis using monoclonal antibody IgG / IgM against adult worm of Anglostrongylus cantonensis.Result Swelling and consolidation of lung were observed in rats infected by Angiostrongylus cantonensis after 6 weeks.The surfaces of lung were stiff and rough with gray worm eggs nodes,with widespread pathological areas.Many spherical or elliptical worm eggs nodes had been observed under light microscope by hematoxylin-eosin staining,with fibrous degeneration around the nodes.The interalveolar septum thickening and the alveolus circumscription disappeared.Worm eggs in the nodes were developed to form morulas,worms and first stage larvas.Results of immunohistochemical staining with monoclonal antibody IgG / IgM against adult worm of Anglostrongylus cantonensis indicated the immunoreactivity antigens of IgG were mainly located in the worm eggs of morula,but the antigens of IgM were expressed in all locations of morula,worms and first stage larvas.Conclusion The main pathological chamge in lung of rat infected with Anglostrongylus cantonensis is a lot of worm eggs nodes forming together with fibrous degeneration in lung.The expressions of immunoreactivity antigens in different developmental stages of eggs nodes are different significantly with the staining of monoclonal antibody IgG / IgM against adult worm of Anglostrongylus cantonensis.