Influence of cadmium and selenite ions on the mice resistance to experimental bacterial infection.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of chronic exposure to cadmium and selenite ions on the mice resistance to experimental Listeria monocytogenes infection. Materials and methods: BALB/c mice were infected with facultative intracellular pathogen L. monocytogenes and the following oral treatments were given for 8 weeks: for control group (n = 20) deionized drinking water; Cd^I group (n = 30) water containing CdCl2 10 mg/1; a Cd^II group (n = 30) water containing CdCl2 100 mg/l and Cd+Se group (n = 30) water containing CdCl2 10 mg/l and Na2SeO3 0.15 mg/l. Results: Chronic high doses (100 mg/l) of cadmium poisoning during infection affected the growth rate and survival of mice while selenite ions increased these parameters. Long-term Cd²⁺ and SeO3^2- exposure increased (p < 0.01) the number of bacteria carriers in all the experimental mice groups. Higher dose of Cd²⁺ increased listeria persistence in liver as compared to lower Cd²⁺ dose, but the difference was not significant. SeO3^2- very slightly decreased this parameter as compared with 2 Cd-receiving mice groups. Our experimental data indicate that selenite ions treatment did not increase the mice resistance to L. monocytogenes. Antilisterial antibody titer in the Cd+Se group was lower (p < 0.05) than in the control group, but higher than in the Cd-treated mice groups. Conclusions: Selenite ions did not reduce the negative effect of cadmium ions on the mice resistance to bacterial infection. Mice intoxicated with high doses of cadmium ions are more susceptible to Listeria monocytogenes infection than non-intoxicated mice or intoxicated with a small concentration of cadmium ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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