Scientists tested whether two types of good bacteria could help mice fight off a dangerous worm infection called Trichinella. They gave 120 mice either the helpful bacteria before and after infection, or just after infection, then compared how well they fought off the worms. One bacteria called Lactobacillus brevis worked much better than the other, reducing the number of worms and boosting the immune system. Both bacteria helped heal damage to the intestines and muscles caused by the worms, but Lactobacillus was the clear winner for protection.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether two specific probiotic bacteria could help mice fight off a dangerous parasitic worm infection
  • Who participated: 120 laboratory mice divided into six different treatment groups
  • Key finding: Lactobacillus brevis significantly reduced worm counts and boosted immune responses better than the other bacteria tested
  • What it means for you: This early research suggests certain probiotics might help fight parasitic infections, but human studies are needed before any recommendations can be made

The Research Details

Researchers divided 120 mice into six groups and infected most of them with 400 Trichinella worm larvae by mouth. Some groups got probiotics before and after infection, others only after infection, one group got standard medicine, and one group got no treatment. The scientists then measured how many worms survived, how the immune system responded, and how much tissue damage occurred at 5 and 19 days after infection.

This controlled approach allowed researchers to directly compare how well each treatment worked against both the infection itself and the damage it caused to body tissues.

The study used proper control groups, multiple measurement points, and examined several different outcomes including parasite counts, immune responses, and tissue healing, making the results more reliable.

What the Results Show

Lactobacillus brevis given both before and after infection worked best, significantly reducing both adult worms in the intestines and larvae in muscle tissue compared to untreated infected mice. This bacteria also triggered a strong immune response, boosting infection-fighting proteins called IL-12 and IFN-gamma at 5 days, and increasing antibodies at 19 days. Bacillus subtilis also helped reduce parasite numbers but wasn’t as effective as Lactobacillus brevis.

Both probiotic bacteria helped heal tissue damage in the small intestine and diaphragm muscle caused by the worm infection. They also helped restore a protein called claudin-1 that’s important for maintaining healthy tissue barriers.

This appears to be among the first studies to test these specific probiotic strains against Trichinella infection, adding to growing evidence that certain beneficial bacteria may help fight parasitic diseases.

This study only tested mice, so we don’t know if the same effects would occur in humans. The researchers also only tested one type of parasitic worm, so results might not apply to other parasitic infections.

The Bottom Line

While promising, this research is too early to recommend these specific probiotics for treating parasitic infections in humans. More research including human trials is needed first.

People interested in probiotics research and those in areas where parasitic worm infections are common should follow this developing research, but shouldn’t change their current treatments based on these mouse studies alone.

Human studies would likely take several years to complete before any clinical recommendations could be made.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track general probiotic intake and any digestive symptoms if you’re already taking probiotics for other health reasons
  • Focus on proven probiotic benefits like digestive health while staying informed about emerging research on immune support
  • Monitor overall gut health markers and immune function indicators while following developments in probiotic research

This research was conducted in mice and should not be used to guide treatment decisions for parasitic infections in humans. Always consult healthcare providers for proper diagnosis and treatment of any suspected parasitic infections.