Blastocystis reduces weight gain in Wistar rats, suppresses white blood cell proliferation, with stress exacerbating things

Researchers at the University of Malaysia report that experimental Blastocystis infection reduces the rate of weight gain in Wistar rates significantly.  Additionally, Blastocystis antigen was found to reduce the proliferation of peripheral monocytes in vitro, which the researchers identified as an immuno-suppressant property of the antigen.  Wistar rates who were stressed showed a significant impairment in their response to Blastocystis infection, with higher cyst counts found in stool samples, higher concentrations of some markers which gauge immune response, but inhibition of white blood cell activity. For more information, see the paper from PLOS-One.

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