Coinfection with Toxoplasma gondii inhibits antigen-specific Th2 immune responses, tissue inflamation, and parasitism in BALB/c mice infected with Leishmania major.

Abstract

Lesion size, cellular infiltration, and tissue parasitism in the footpads of BALB/c mice infected with Leishmania major were all dramatically inhibited during acute but not chronic infection with Toxoplasma gondii. Similarly, acute but not chronic toxoplasmosis at the time of infection with L. major had a strong inhibitory effect on development of acquired immune responses mediated by Th2 lymphocytes. In contrast, no m