Nitric Oxide Production in mixed cultures of infected rats with Neospora caninum and treated with Jataí Honey (Tetragonisca angustula)

Neosporosis is a disease caused by Neospora caninum sp (JP Dubey), an intracellular parasite that affects many animal species, fostering abortions and neurological disorders. Recent studies on Neospora caninum have shown that glial cells have been considered a model of in vitro infections of these protozoa. Honey has been used since ancient times for its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. The present study aimed to evaluate the in vitro reactivity of glial cells (astrocytes and microglia) infected with N. caninum treated with Jataí honey at 1% (Tetragonisca angustula). After 72 hours from infection, mitochondrial metabolism, dehydrogenase lactate activity (LDH), nitric oxide production (NO) and the number of parasites were checked. Cultures treated with honey at 1% have shown mitochondrial metabolism and cell permeability increase. There was an increase in nitrite production, possible indicating a microglial activation. Nitric Oxide values found in this study may indicate an immune response against Neospora caninum tachyzoites, since such increase may contribute to reduce the number of tachyzoites. So, our results suggest that honey had a protective effect over astrocytes and microglia cultures infected with Neospora caninum.