Acetylcholinesterase and cholinesterase activities in rats infected with giardia lamblia

Abstract

Thirty-three adult Wistar rats were assigned randomly to receive either 1.0 x 106 human Giardia lamblia cysts (n = 18) or controls (n = 15). Actylcholinesterase (AChE) and cholinesterase (ChE) activities in the infected rats were compared with the controls. The results showed that the plasma ChE activities in the infected rats were statistically significant higher than controls on day 10, 25, 29, 33, and 40 post-infection and decreased to baseline after day 49 post-infection. The red cell AChE activities in the infected rats were higher than the controls on day 37, 55, and 58 post-infection. There was a reverse correlation between Giardia cysts output and red cell AChE activity in the infected rats. This study suggested that there was no liver involvement but enhancement of erythropoiesis secondary to anemia in rats infected with Giardia lamblia.