Maternal Separation During Breastfeeding as a Risk Factor for Developing Giardiasis: Evaluation in a Rodent Model

Background : Giardia lamblia is a globally prevalent gastrointestinal parasite. Breastfeeding provides protective effects against infections, but the impact of early life stress, such as maternal separation, on Giardia infection remains unclear. This study examines how maternal separation during breastfeeding (MSDB) affects Giardia infection in Wistar rats. Results : MSDB significantly increased cyst shedding, particularly in females, and elevated eosinophil counts, which are markers of acute infection. The Villi/crypt ratios were lower in the MSDB non-infected groups than in their non-separated counterparts, with males showing significant differences among the infected groups. MSDB in infected groups was associated with a significantly higher eosinophil count outside the capillaries, highlighting its impact on acute infection markers, with this effect observed in both sexes. Conclusions : Maternal separation exacerbates Giardia infection by impairing gut immune responses, underscoring the critical role of early-life maternal interactions in mitigating parasitic infections.