The impact of probiotic administration on experimental in vitro and in vivo infection by Trypanosoma cruzi.

2025
Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz 120

PubMed: 41124405
DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760240272

Study Design

Population: mouse acute experimental models; peritoneal mouse macrophages (PMM) obtained from mice treated with 10^9 probiotics
Methods: The multi strain - PB8 and the Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LR) were orally administered [10^6-10^9 colony-forming units (CFU)] for seven days prior to mice infection followed for 14 daily administrations. Peritoneal mouse macrophages (PMM) were obtained from mice treated with 10^9 probiotics one day before collection and infected in vitro with or not benznidazole (BZ).

Animal Study

Background

Chagas disease (CD) caused by Trypanosoma cruzi has limited therapy. Probiotics sustain healthy microbiota, playing roles in biological events.

Objectives

Our aim was to determine the impact of probiotics on T. cruzi infection in vitro and in mouse acute experimental models.

Methods

The multi strain - PB8 and the Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LR) were orally administered [106-109 colony-forming units (CFU)] for seven days prior to mice infection followed for 14 daily administrations. Peritoneal mouse macrophages (PMM) were obtained from mice treated with 109 probiotics one day before collection and infected in vitro with or not benznidazole (BZ).

Findings

LR and PB8 reduced by 44-87% and 23-16% the parasitaemia peak in male and female mice, respectively, but did not protect against mortality. Histopathology showed mild reduction in cardiac nests due to probiotics' administration. PB8 and LR suppressed the parasite infection of PMM by 24 and 26%, reaching 65 and 42% of declines, respectively when 3% thioglycolate was performed. PB8 increased BZ activity at 1 µM, reaching 40% of parasitism' declines compared to BZ alone (25%). No gender difference was noticed during probiotic in vivo administration.

Main conclusions

The results point to the potential of a combined therapeutic approach for CD, using probiotics and BZ.

Research Insights

Supplement	Dose	Health Outcome	Effect Type	Effect Size	Source
Bifidobacterium bifidum BB-06	—	Improved Benznidazole Antiparasitic Activity	Beneficial	Small	View source "PB8 increased BZ activity at 1 µM, reaching 40% of parasitism' declines compared to BZ alone (25%)."
Bifidobacterium bifidum BB-06	—	Reduced Parasite Infection in Peritoneal Mouse Macrophages	Beneficial	Small	View source "PB8 and LR suppressed the parasite infection of PMM by 24 and 26%"
Bifidobacterium bifidum BB-06	—	Reduced Trypanosoma cruzi Parasitaemia	Beneficial	Moderate	View source "LR and PB8 reduced by 44-87% and 23-16% the parasitaemia peak in male and female mice, respectively"
Lactobacillus rhamnosus Lr-32	—	Improved Benznidazole Antiparasitic Activity	Beneficial	Small	View source "PB8 increased BZ activity at 1 µM, reaching 40% of parasitism' declines compared to BZ alone (25%)."
Lactobacillus rhamnosus Lr-32	—	Reduced Cardiac Parasite Burden	Beneficial	Small	View source Histopathology showed mild reduction in cardiac nests due to probiotics' administration.
Lactobacillus rhamnosus Lr-32	—	Reduced Parasite Infection in Peritoneal Mouse Macrophages	Beneficial	Small	View source "PB8 and LR suppressed the parasite infection of PMM by 24 and 26%"
Lactobacillus rhamnosus Lr-32	—	Reduced Trypanosoma cruzi Parasitaemia	Beneficial	Moderate	View source "LR and PB8 reduced by 44-87% and 23-16% the parasitaemia peak in male and female mice, respectively"