AUTHOR=Yan Xinlei , Sun Yufei , Yu Xiuli , Gao Jialu , Wang Hejing , Liang Ru , Han Wenying , Jin Xindong , Guo Wenhui , Liu Pufang , Chen Jia 

TITLE=Study on the effect of koumiss on reactivation of Toxoplasma gondii infection

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Nutrition

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2022.1032271

DOI=10.3389/fnut.2022.1032271

ISSN=2296-861X

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Toxoplasma gondii</italic> is an obligate intracellular parasite that infects nucleated cells of all warm-blooded animals, and most patients have latent infections. The latent infection will be reactivated in the immunocompromised or immunocompromised individuals, which will lead to severe toxoplasmosis. At present, less research has been focused on the reactivation of <italic>T. gondii</italic> infection. Koumiss is a kind of fermented milk made from fresh mare’s milk through natural fermentation that can be applied to clinical and rehabilitation medicine to mitigate the development of various diseases due to its unique functional characteristics. In this study, we explored the antagonistic effect of koumiss on reactivation of <italic>T. gondii</italic> infection. Mice were treated with dexamethasone to establish a reactivation model after infection with <italic>T. gondii</italic> and then treated with koumiss. The survival rate, SHIRPA test, serum cytokine levels, organ parasite burden and intestinal microbiota were measured, respectively. Our results showed that koumiss treatment improved the clinical symptoms of mice, significantly reduced the organ parasite burden of mice, and improved the composition and structure of intestinal flora. This study provides new evidence for the alleviation and treatment of toxoplasmosis and provides a novel idea for the development and utilization of koumiss.</p>