Preventive role of probiotic bacteria against gastrointestinal diseases in mice caused by Giardia lamblia
Authors: Shadia H Mohamed
Wafa A Al-Megrin
Moudy M Saleh
Hany M Yehia
Journal: Bioscience Reports (2021)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: ELISA; Giardia lamblia; histopathological studies; probiotics.
Affiliations: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Saudi Arabia., Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt., Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia., Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Food and Agriculture Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia., Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Home Economics, Helwan University, Cairo 11221, Egypt.

Abstract:  Giardiasis is one of the most prevalent gastrointestinal diseases in the world. It is caused by Giardia, Giardia lamblia, a common and opportunistic zoonotic parasite. The aim of our work is to find a natural and safe alternative treatment for giardiasis, specifically, to determine if probiotic bacteria (Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum, and Lactobacillus helveticus) can contribute to treatment, and act as preventives. Sixty weanling albino mice, Mus musculus, were divided into control and experimental, probiotic-fed groups. We determined infection intensity, and cure and prevention rates of giardiasis through ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) of stool samples and histopathological comparison of intestinal tissue. In experimental groups, there was a significant reduction in infection intensity (P&lt;0.001) on days 10, 15, and 20, while cure rate reached 87.5%. The control group showed no signs of reduced infection or cure and only the group treated with probiotics prior to infection showed significant prevention rates. In the experimental groups, intestinal changes due to giardiasis appeared 7 days post-infection. However, almost all of these changes disappeared by the 25th day. Our results suggest a beneficial and significant effect of probiotics in the prevention and treatment of giardiasis in mice. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 The images in Figures 3,4, and 5 appear to have repetitive elements within the images. It is difficult to understand how this could have occurred by accident. *** 3  *** 4  *** 5  , 
 #1 Dear Alice THANK YOU FOR YOUR e. mail The Professor of Histology explained this points: Figure 3: The lamina propria of the villi containing connective tissue with blood vessels and some inflammatory cells are present so it is normal to find these structures in many areas of the section. Figure 4: The lining epithelium of all villi is one type, simple columnar epithelium. Figure 5: The same as mentioned in Figure 3. , 
 It appears that the publisher was at fault - or rather, a subcontractor in the publication process, who took it upon themselves to tamper with the images provided by the authors. The authors are vindicated. Correction, [2 June 2021] : ------------------------------------------ This article is being corrected following notification from one of our readers alerting Bioscience Reports to duplicated sections within Figures 2-5. The Editorial Office contacted the authors and were provided with original images and raw data which did not contain the areas of concern raised by the reader. Following investigation by the Editorial Office, it was identified that the version of files accepted for publication on 12 February 2021 did not contain the image duplications that were identified post-publication. It has since been discovered that the duplications were introduced by an external production vendor during the production process prior to publication in order to achieve a coherent image style (i.e. modification of panel labelling within a figure), and thus first appeared in the Version of Record published by Bioscience Reports on 26 February 2021. The correct version of Figures 2-5 as originally submitted by the authors and present in the accepted manuscript are included in this Correction. The Editorial Office apologises to both the authors of this paper and readers that such duplications were introduced. Immediate workflow changes have taken place within our production processes to prevent such errors occurring in the future.     ,