Protective effects of camel milk on acute and chronic infection of toxoplasma gondii in mice

In this study, the effects of camel milk in mice infected with T. gondii was evaluated. We established acute and chronic infection mouse models, as well as a dexamethasone-based immunocompromised model. All mice were treated with camel milk, milk, or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), followed by analyses of survival rate, cyst count, serum cytokine levels and brain inflammation in mice. There were significant differences in linear trend (P < 0.05) in the survival curve of treating by camel milk, milk and PBS. And serum levels of IL-2 (P < 0.05) of camel milk-treated mice were lower compared with milk group, while serum levels of IL-4 and IFN-y (P < 0.05 for both, P < 0.01 for both) were higher of camel milk-treated mice than milk and PBS group. Additionally, camel milk reduced the extent of brain inflammation in mice with chronic T. gondii infection and immunocompromised mice. Importantly, camel milk alleviated the clinical symptoms of toxoplasmosis in mice. In conclusion, our findings suggest that camel milk exhibits promise for preventing or treating T. gondii infections.