Eosinophil and mast cell expression in host skin during larval development of the human bot fly Dermatobia hominis

Eosinophils and mast cells in the skin of Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) infested with Dermatobia hominis larvae were quantified and analysed. Eosinophils in parasitised skin increased markedly until 10 days post-infestation (dpi) and then decreased up to 28 dpi, close to the point at which third stage larvae (L3) emerged from the host. In ascending order, the highest numbers of eosinophils were seen in rats at 1, 4, 28, 20, 15 and 10 dpi, corresponding to the first, (1 and 4) third (20 and 28) and second (10 and 15) instars. Except for 1 dpi, eosinophil numbers were significantly higher than those seen in control animals. Mast cell numbers were highest in early infestation (4 dpi), followed by those at 20 dpi. In increasing order, numbers of mast cells were greatest at 10, 28, 15, 1, 20 and 4 dpi, although significant differences with control animals were only seen at 10 and 28 dpi. Eosinophils and mast cells showed negative correlation only in animals with second instar larvae (10 and 15 dpi). Comparative analyses were also carried out after considering the skin into four distinct regions. The results suggest that the expression of both cell types, particularly eosinophils, is an important host response to infestation by D. hominis.