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Figure 4 | BMC Microbiology

Figure 4

From: Mycobacterium bovis BCG infection severely delays Trichuris muris expulsion and co-infection suppresses immune responsiveness to both pathogens

Figure 4

Co-infection increases mitotic figures in the caecum crypts. (A) Histological analysis of goblet cell numbers as determined by the percentage PAS+ cells (indicated by arrow) per 2 x 20 cross sectional crypt units in T. muris-only (clear) and co-infected (black) BALB/c mice infected according to the experimental design as shown in Figure 1A. Data display median ± min-max, representing 2–3 individual experiments of 5 animals per group. (B) Toluidine blue stained mitotic bodies (indicated by the arrows) were counted in 2 x 20 crypts/slide. Numbers of mitotic bodies as determined from cross-sectional and longitudinal crypt units in co-infected (black) and T. muris-only (clear) infected BALB/c mice infected according to Figure 1A. Data display median ± min-max, representing 2–3 individual experiments of 5 animals per group (C) Toluidine blue staining for the assessment of mast cells (indicated by arrows) in cross sectional and longitudinal crypt units demonstrated few mast cells within the lamina propria and crypt epithelium of the caecum tissue with most mast cells residing within the submucosa surrounding the caecum. Bar graph indicating the numbers of mast cells measured in co-infected (black) and T. muris-only (clear) infected groups per 40 caecum crypts. Data display median ± SD of 5 animals per group. P values <0.05 were considered statistically significant. (ns = non significant).

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