Neutrophil extracellular traps in the intestinal mucosa of Eimeria-infected animals

Objective:To investigate the presence of neutrophil extracellular traps(NETs) in vivo by analysing intestinal sections from experimentally Eimeria bovis-and naturally Eimeria arloingi-infected animals.Methods:Intestinal samples of Eimeria arloingi-and Eimeria bovis-infected animals were analysed by using immunohistochemical and fluorescence approach by using monoclonal antibodies.Results:Classical NET components were confirmed by co-localization of extracellular DNA being decorated with neutrophil elastase and histones in Eimeria-infected tissue samples.Here,extrusion of NETs was exclusively detected in intestinal polymorphonuclear neutrophils infiltrating Eimeria-infected sites.In vivo NETs were either found in close proximity or in direct contact to different Eimeria stages suggesting a stage-independent process.NETs were also found within the gut lumen driven by polymorphonuclear neutrophils that were contacting released oocysts.Conclusions:We postulate that NETs might play an important role in innate defence reactions in coccidiosis therefore significantly altering the outcome of infection.