Theileria annulata (Ta)-infected leucocytes are able to disseminate in scid mice. The dose of virulent parasites of the Ta-Ode line required to achieve quantifiable dissemination was found to be 2×10 cells given i.p. Dissemination was higher on day 11 post-inoculation than on day 18. The attenuated Ta-Ode cells were found to disseminate very poorly compared to their virulent progenitors, which correlates with a marked reduction in matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression. A daily i.p. injection of mice with BB94, a synthetic inhibitor of MMPs, almost completely ablated dissemination compared to controls. This provides strong evidence that metastasis of Theileria annulata macroschizont-infected host cells is mediated by host MMPs induced by the parasite. This has important implications for explaining a number of pathological features of tropical theileriosis in cattle.
