Arctigenin ameliorates depression-like behaviors in Toxoplasma gondii-infected intermediate hosts via the TLR4/NF-κB and TNFR1/NF-κB signaling pathways

2020 ◽  
Vol 82 ◽  
pp. 106302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jia-Hui Cheng ◽  
Xiang Xu ◽  
Ying-Biao Li ◽  
Xu-Dong Zhao ◽  
Fumie Aosai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Intermediate Hosts

scholarly journals TRAF6-Dependent Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Activation Differentially Regulates the Production of Interleukin-12 by Macrophages in Response to Toxoplasma gondii

2004 ◽  
Vol 72 (10) ◽  
pp. 5662-5667 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola J. Mason ◽  
Jim Fiore ◽  
Takashi Kobayashi ◽  
Katherine S. Masek ◽  
Yongwon Choi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Intracellular Signaling ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Interleukin 12 ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Kinase Activation ◽  
Extracellular Signal ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein

ABSTRACT The production of interleukin-12 (IL-12) is critical to the development of innate and adaptive immune responses required for the control of intracellular pathogens. Many microbial products signal through Toll-like receptors (TLR) and activate NF-κB family members that are required for the production of IL-12. Recent studies suggest that components of the TLR pathway are required for the production of IL-12 in response to the parasite Toxoplasma gondii; however, the production of IL-12 in response to this parasite is independent of NF-κB activation. The adaptor molecule TRAF6 is involved in TLR signaling pathways and associates with serine/threonine kinases involved in the activation of both NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). To elucidate the intracellular signaling pathways involved in the production of IL-12 in response to soluble toxoplasma antigen (STAg), wild-type and TRAF6−/− mice were inoculated with STAg, and the production of IL-12(p40) was determined. TRAF6−/− mice failed to produce IL-12(p40) in response to STAg, and TRAF6−/− macrophages stimulated with STAg also failed to produce IL-12(p40). Studies using Western blot analysis of wild-type and TRAF6−/− macrophages revealed that stimulation with STAg resulted in the rapid TRAF6-dependent phosphorylation of p38 and extracellular signal-related kinase, which differentially regulated the production of IL-12(p40). The studies presented here demonstrate for the first time that the production of IL-12(p40) in response to toxoplasma is dependent upon TRAF6 and p38 MAPK.

Insights into the molecular basis of host behaviour manipulation by Toxoplasma gondii infection

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (6) ◽  
pp. 563-572 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre-Mehdi Hammoudi ◽  
Dominique Soldati-Favre
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
Toxoplasma Gondii Infection ◽  
Host Parasite ◽  
Host Behaviour ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Brain Homeostasis

Typically illustrating the ‘manipulation hypothesis’, Toxoplasma gondii is widely known to trigger sustainable behavioural changes during chronic infection of intermediate hosts to enhance transmission to its feline definitive hosts, ensuring survival and dissemination. During the chronic stage of infection in rodents, a variety of neurological dysfunctions have been unravelled and correlated with the loss of cat fear, among other phenotypic impacts. However, the underlying neurological alteration(s) driving these behavioural modifications is only partially understood, which makes it difficult to draw more than a correlation between T. gondii infection and changes in brain homeostasis. Moreover, it is barely known which among the brain regions governing fear and stress responses are preferentially affected during T. gondii infection. Studies aiming at an in-depth dissection of underlying molecular mechanisms occurring at the host and parasite levels will be discussed in this review. Addressing this reminiscent topic in the light of recent technical progress and new discoveries regarding fear response, olfaction and neuromodulator mechanisms could contribute to a better understanding of this complex host–parasite interaction.

scholarly journals Molecular identification of Toxoplasma gondii in roadkill wild animals in Yucatan, Mexico

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Antonio Torres-Castro ◽  
Rodrigo Adán Medina-Pinto ◽  
Henry René Noh-Pech ◽  
Fernando I. Puerto ◽  
Roger Iván Rodríguez-Vivas
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Negative Control ◽  
Molecular Evidence ◽  
Wild Animals ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Muscle Sample ◽  
Wild Mammals ◽  
Lung Sample

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite, recognized as the etiologic agent of toxoplasmosis, a zoonotic endemic disease in several countries, including Mexico. In the Yucatan State of Mexico, Toxoplasma infection has a high impact in both human and domestic animal health. Wild animals can also host zoonotic pathogens such as Toxoplasma gondii. The presence of Toxoplasma gondii DNA in roadkill wild animals in Yucatan was detected using a nested Polymerase Chain Reaction. Toxoplasma gondii DNA was identified in several organs retrieved from a Yucatan squirrel (Sciurus yucatanensis), a coatimundi (Nasua narica), and a greater grison (Galictis vittata). The amplified fragments of Toxoplasma gondii DNA were purified, sequenced, and certified by BLAST analysis. Our results confirm that Toxoplasma gondii can infect wild mammals from Yucatan, which could act as intermediate hosts and contribute to the transmission of the disease to humans and domestic animals, as well as other wild animal species. We present the first molecular evidence of Toxoplasma gondii in a squirrel and a coatimundi from Yucatan, and quite possibly in a greater grison at a global level.Figure 1. Agarose gel presenting PCR amplicons (560 bp) positive to Toxoplasma gondii. 1) C+: positive control; A: Yucatan squirrel liver sample; B: great grison femoral muscle sample; C: coatimundi kidney sample; C-: negative control. 2) A: Yucatan squirrel brain sample; B: great grison lung sample; C-: negative control.

Tissue cyst tropism in Toxoplasma gondii: a comparison of tissue cyst formation in organs of cats, and rodents fed oocysts

Parasitology ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 115 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. P. DUBEY
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Cyst Formation ◽  
Tissue Cyst ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
Mesenteric Lymph Nodes ◽  
Marked Contrast ◽  
Mesenteric Lymph ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Rats And Mice ◽  
The Brain

The persistence of Toxoplasma gondii tissue cysts in organs of cats (definitive host) and rodents (intermediate hosts) was studied. Nine cats, 12 rats, and 12 mice were fed T. gondii oocysts and their organs were digested in pepsin and then bioassayed for bradyzoites in mice. Of 9 cats killed 37 or 51 days after feeding 102 (2 cats), 103 (3 cats) or 104 (4 cats) oocysts of the VEG strain, tissue cysts were found in each cat; in the tongue of 9, in the heart of 5, in the brain of 4, and in the eyes of 1 cat. The dose had no effect on the distribution of tissue cysts in cats. Twelve rats were each fed 105 oocysts of the VEG strain of T. gondii and killed 21, 29, 64 or 237 days later. At each time-period, 11 tissues of 3 rats were pooled and bioassayed in mice. Tissue cysts were found in the brain, skeletal muscle, heart and kidneys of rats at each killing time; in the lungs, intestines, and mesenteric lymph nodes in 3 of 4 instances; in the tongue, liver, and eyes in 2 instances and in the spleen in 1 instance. Also, using the same procedures and sampling the same 11 tissues as used for rats, tissue cysts were seen in all organs except in the tongue and liver of 3 mice killed on day 82 after feeding the VEG strain. In 9 mice (3 with each strain) fed oocysts of the ME-49, GT-1, or P89 T. gondii strain and killed 62–130 days later, tissue cysts were found consistently only in the brain. Thus, in rats and mice, most tissue cysts were found in the brain and rarely in the tongue. This was in marked contrast to the distribution of tissue cysts in cats.

scholarly journals Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and related risk factors in mammals at Sorocaba zoo, São Paulo, BrazilToxoplasma gondii antibodies and related risk factors in mammals at Sorocaba zoo, São Paulo, Brazil

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (4Supl1) ◽  
pp. 2845
Author(s):  
Renata Bezerra Marujo ◽  
Helio Langoni ◽  
Leila Sabrina Ullmann ◽  
Maysa Pellizzaro ◽  
Ramiro Das Neves Dias Neto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Multivariate Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Sao Paulo ◽  
São Paulo ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Related Risk

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic zoonosis with worldwide distribution and different wild species either are involved in maintenance of the pathogen in the environment as definitive or intermediate hosts serving as font of feeding or prey to definitive hosts. The present study aimed to investigate Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and the risk factors relating to infection in mammals at Sorocaba Zoo, state of São Paulo, Brazil. Serum samples collected from 153 animals were analyzed using the modified agglutination test (MAT; cutoff ? 25). Seropositivity was found in 62 animals (40.5%; 95% CI: 33.1-48.5%), with different titers. Significant differences were observed in relation to the ages of the animals, origin, presence of free-ranging animals in the enclosure and feeding habits, through univariate analysis (p ? 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that only age (p = 0.03) had significance for the study. Adult animals were 3.5 more likely to become infected than were young ones. In relation to feeding habits, herbivores (80%) and carnivores (46.5%) were the animals most affected. These results highlight the presence of T. gondii in animals at Brazilian zoos, and suggest that continuous transmission is occurring at zoos.

Evidence for genetic diversity of Toxoplasma gondii in selected intermediate hosts in Serbia

2014 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 173-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marija Marković ◽  
Vladimir Ivović ◽  
Tijana Štajner ◽  
Vitomir Djokić ◽  
Ivana Klun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Intermediate Hosts

scholarly journals Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, and Sarcocystis Species DNA in the Heart and Breast Muscles of Rock Pigeons (Columbia livia)

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Mudasser Nazir ◽  
Muhammad Mazhar Ayaz ◽  
Atif Nisar Ahmed ◽  
Azhar Maqbool ◽  
Kamran Ashraf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Environmental Contamination ◽  
Breast Tissue ◽  
Neospora Caninum ◽  
Breast Muscle ◽  
Sarcocystis Species ◽  
Protozoan Parasites ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
Columbia Livia ◽  
Animal Sciences

Little is known about the prevalence of protozoan parasites in the muscles of rock pigeons (Columbia livia). The muscles from 54 (heart from 45 and breast from 54) rock pigeons were examined for DNA of Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, and Sarcocystis species using PCR. Twenty-four were female and 30 were males. The birds were part of flocks of pigeons housed at the tombs of saints in Lahore, Pakistan. Birds that died or were euthanized due to poor health were submitted for necropsy at the Department of Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan, where DNA isolations and PCR were conducted. Nineteen (35.1%) of the birds were positive for T. gondii DNA. Seven males and 12 females were positive. Breast tissue was always infected in T. gondii positive birds, while the heart was infected in 13 (28.8%) of breast positive birds. Five (9.2%) of the pigeons, 2 males and 3 females, were positive for N. caninum. The distribution of N. caninum DNA was more variable in the muscles of pigeons than T. gondii and was found only in the heart of 1 (female), heart and breast muscle of 2 (male), and only the breast muscle of 2 birds (female). One of the 54 rock pigeons (female) was positive for both T. gondii (heart and breast) and N. caninum (heart only). Two of the positive Neospora caninum amplicons were sequenced and had 97% nucleotide identity with N. caninum isolates. Sarcocystis DNA was not found in any bird. The prevalence of T. gondii in rock pigeons and their predation by cats suggest that they may play an unrecognized role in maintaining environmental contamination with T. gondii oocysts by cats. Our study indicates that rock pigeons are intermediate hosts of N. caninum and this information will aid in understanding the epidemiology of N. caninum.

scholarly journals Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii in domestic cattle, sheep, goats and pigs from São Tomé and Príncipe

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Cruz Pereira ◽  
Jitender Pradash Dubey ◽  
Alfredo da Mata ◽  
Helda Neto ◽  
Luís Cardoso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Geographical Area ◽  
Central Area ◽  
Local Environment ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
Adult Age ◽  
Source Of Infection ◽  
Modified Agglutination Test ◽  
Sao Tome And Principe ◽  
Zoonotic Parasite

Abstract Despite the global importance of the zoonotic parasite Toxoplasma gondii, little is known regarding its infection in the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe (DRSTP). This is the first report of antibodies to T. gondii in cattle, sheep, goats and pigs from the DRSTP. Antibodies were assessed by the modified agglutination test (MAT), with a cut-off titer of 100 for cattle and 20 for sheep, goats and pigs. The present study revealed an overall seroprevalence of 55.8%; 27.1% in 48 cattle, 68.4% in 98 sheep, 70.1% in 97 goats and 43.7% in 103 pigs. The south geographical area for cattle, the central area for sheep, and adult age and living in the central region for goats were found to be risk factors for seropositivity to T. gondii. These results support the scenario of a considerable presence of sporulated oocysts as well as of infected intermediate hosts in the local environment. Consumption of raw or undercooked meat should be considered as an important potential source of infection for animals and humans in the DRSTP.

scholarly journals Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and related risk factors in mammals at Sorocaba zoo, São Paulo, BrazilToxoplasma gondii antibodies and related risk factors in mammals at Sorocaba zoo, São Paulo, Brazil

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (4Supl1) ◽  
pp. 2845 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renata Bezerra Marujo ◽  
Helio Langoni ◽  
Leila Sabrina Ullmann ◽  
Maysa Pellizzaro ◽  
Ramiro Das Neves Dias Neto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Multivariate Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Sao Paulo ◽  
São Paulo ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Related Risk

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic zoonosis with worldwide distribution and different wild species either are involved in maintenance of the pathogen in the environment as definitive or intermediate hosts serving as font of feeding or prey to definitive hosts. The present study aimed to investigate Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and the risk factors relating to infection in mammals at Sorocaba Zoo, state of São Paulo, Brazil. Serum samples collected from 153 animals were analyzed using the modified agglutination test (MAT; cutoff ? 25). Seropositivity was found in 62 animals (40.5%; 95% CI: 33.1-48.5%), with different titers. Significant differences were observed in relation to the ages of the animals, origin, presence of free-ranging animals in the enclosure and feeding habits, through univariate analysis (p ? 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that only age (p = 0.03) had significance for the study. Adult animals were 3.5 more likely to become infected than were young ones. In relation to feeding habits, herbivores (80%) and carnivores (46.5%) were the animals most affected. These results highlight the presence of T. gondii in animals at Brazilian zoos, and suggest that continuous transmission is occurring at zoos.

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