Behavioral alterations induced by Toxoplama gondii during different stages of infection in mice
Journal Title: Journal of Applied Veterinary Sciences - Year 2016, Vol 1, Issue 1
Abstract
Acute, chronic and reactivation of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infections are approximately found in 30-60% of the population worldwide. T. gondii is a pathogen relevant to psychiatric disorders. We have recently found that reactivation of chronic T. gondii induced depressive-like behaviours in mice. In the present study, we aimed to illustrate the behavioural alterations in mice during acute, chronic and after reactivation of chronic T. gondii. Behavioural battery included sucrose preference and forced swim, and fear conditioning tests, and measurement of locomotor activity following T. gondii infection in mice. First, we prepared an ethogram and confirmed that specific pathogen-free-BALB/c mice exhibited sickness-like behaviours during acute infection. In addition, reduced sucrose preference and increased immobility in forced swim test (putative indicators to anhedonic and despair-like behaviours, respectively) were exhibited in the acute phase. While in chronic stage such symptoms were not exhibited at all. In turn, relapse of depressive- and some of the sickness-like symptoms noticed after reactivation of chronic T. gondii infection. Interestingly, increased freezing time in fear conditioning was displayed during acute and reactivated T. gondii but not during chronic infection. Further, despite the well-known contribution of neurotransmitters; serotonin and dopamine in major depressive disorder, low levels of these neurotransmitters were observed in the brain not only in acute but also during chronic infection. Without interpolation of these symptoms to human psychiatric disorders, collectively, our results demonstrated the crucial changes induced by acute and reactivated T. gondii in modifying the behavior of mice.
Authors and Affiliations
Motamed Elsayed Mahmoud, Yoshifumi Nishikawa
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP677114
- DOI 10.21608/JAVS.2016.61815
- Views 353
- Downloads 0
Monitoring the efficacy of Terlipressin acetate in dogs suffering from hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE)
In the present study, a therapeutic trial was conducted to assess comparative efficacy of Terlipressin acetate in dogs suffering from hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE). 70 dogs manifesting HGE, presented at teaching vete...
Camel Trypanosomiasis “Dhukaan” in Lower Juba Region of Somalia: Importance and Microscopic Survey
Camel trypanosomiasis is the most significant animal disease in the camel zone of Somalia. The Somali camel is also found in the southern areas of Somalia, which have a high density of vectors, including Glossina. The ec...
Effects Of Chemically Pretreated Bovine Serum Samples On Sensitivity Of Rose Bengal Test For Serodiagnosis Of Bovine Brucellosis
The standard serological test such as Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) is routinely used for the diagnosis of brucellosis. This test depends on the agglutination of colored particulate antigen (killed Brucella organisms) b...
Antigenic And Genomic Characterization Of Local Fowlpox Virus Isolate In 2017
This study presents a local isolate of fowl pox virus (FPV) isolated and propagated from backyard naturally infected laying hens in El-Sharkia Governorate, Egypt, during the period of January to November 2017. Isolation...
Identification of Histopathological Changes Induced by Amitraz in Rats
Amitraz is used worldwide as a pesticide, it produces toxic effects when misused. The peresent study examined the histopathological changes of amitraz in the hepatocyte and kidney tissues of the laboratory albino rats. T...