Expression of matrix metalloproteinases in CSF fluid of Alpacas with Meningeal worm: Role in pathophysiology of neurologic deficits

Principal investigator:

Jeffrey Lakritz, DVM, Ph.D.
The Ohio State University

Paralytic spinal cord/brain meningeal worm infection in South American Camelids remains an important problem in spite of studies evaluating deworming agents and vaccines. Great clinical progress has been achieved in some animals while mortality remains high. We studied one aspect of the inflammatory response associated with meningeal worm infections in hopes of identifying new treatment modalities. The work focused on the host inflammatory response to parasite migration in nervous tissue and associated expression of tissue degrading enzymes (matrix metalloproteinases) in CNS tissue. We evaluated the spinal fluid from documented meningeal worm cases in comparison to control CSF samples obtained from healthy animals to define the expression and activity of host proteolytic enzymes. We characterized the CSF expression of host proteins to determine their activity and inhibitor specificity. In vitro studies evaluating protease inhibitors provided data needed for determination of suitable pharmacologic candidates to treat this disease. This information about key events in the inflammatory response may allow future development of new strategies to treat this devastating disease.