Effects of infection with Toxoplasma gondii oocysts on the intestinal wall and the myenteric plexus of chicken (Gallus gallus)

This paper aims to analyze the effects of the Toxoplasma gondii infection in the intestinal wall and myenteric plexus of chicken (Gallus gallus). Ten 36-day-old chickens were separated into two groups: control and experimental, orally inoculated with oocysts of the T. gondii strain M7741 genotype III. After 60 days the birds were submitted to euthanasia and had their duodenum removed. Part of the intestinal segments was submitted to histological routine, HE staining, PAS histochemical technique, and Alcian Blue. Qualitative analysis of the intestinal wall and comparative measurements among the groups with respect to total wall thickness, muscle tunic, mucosa, and tunica mucosa were carried out. Caliciform cells were quantified. The other part of the intestinal segments was fixed in formol acetic acid and dissected having the tunica mucosa and the tela submucosa removed. Neurons were stained with Giemsa, counted, and measured. Chickens from the experimental group presented diarrhea and inflammatory infiltrates in the tunica mucosa, thickness reduction of all the parameters assessed in the intestinal wall, and an increase of the number of caliciform cells. There was a ~70% reduction regarding the intensity of myenteric neurons; and the remaining cells presented a reduction of ~2.4% of the perikarion and ~40.5% of the nucleus (p<0.05). Chronic infection induced by T. gondii oocysts resulted in intestinal wall atrophy, mucin secretion increase, death and atrophy of chicken myenteric plexus neurons. Death and atrophy of myenteric plexus neurons may be related with the causes of diarrhea observed in chickens with toxoplasmosis.

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Myenteric neuronal plasticity induced by Toxoplasma gondii (genotype III) on the duodenum of rats

Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências ◽

10.1590/s0001-37652012005000052 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 84 (3) ◽

pp. 737-746 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Rodrigo M. Papazian-Cabanas ◽

Eduardo J.A. Araújo ◽

Aristeu V. da Silva ◽

Débora M.G. Sant'Ana

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Neuronal Loss ◽

Chronic Phase ◽

The Body ◽

Control Group ◽

Myenteric Neurons ◽

Cytoplasmic Area ◽

Genotype Iii ◽

Toxoplasmic Infection ◽

Experimental Group

The effects of acute and chronic infection caused by Toxoplasma gondii on duodenal myenteric neurons were analyzed. Eighteen rats were assigned into four groups: Acute Control Group (ACG, n=4); Acute Experimental Group (AEG, n=4); Chronic Control Group (CCG, n=5); and Chronic Experimental Group (CEG, n=5). Rats from the AEG and CEG were inoculated orally with 105 genotype III (BTU-II strain) tachyzoites of T. gondii isolated from a dog with neurological signs. Acute groups were killed after 24 hours after the inoculation and the chronic groups after 30 days. Whole-mount from the duodenum were stained with Giemsa. The population density of myenteric neurons, as well the body cell, nuclear and cytoplasmic area were analyzed. Both acute and chronic toxoplasmic infection did not provoke neuronal loss. On the other hand, plastic alterations were observed: decreasing of the nuclear and cytoplasmic area during the acute phase and neuronal hypertrophy during the chronic phase.

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Serological evidence of exposure to Toxoplasma gondii infection in wild birds and local chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) in Plateau State, North Central Nigeria

Veterinary Parasitology Regional Studies and Reports ◽

10.1016/j.vprsr.2021.100601 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 100601

Author(s):

S.I. Bata ◽

B.V. Maikai ◽

J.K.P. Kwaga ◽

O.O. Okubanjo ◽

L. Pam ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Gallus Gallus ◽

Gallus Domesticus ◽

Wild Birds ◽

Gallus Gallus Domesticus ◽

Serological Evidence ◽

North Central ◽

Plateau State ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii Infection ◽

Local Chickens

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Toxoplasma gondii infection in two captive Patagonian maras

Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation ◽

10.1177/1040638719883191 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 31 (6) ◽

pp. 875-878

Author(s):

Liv Østevik ◽

Kristoffer R. Tysnes ◽

Siv Klevar ◽

John J. Debenham

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Adrenal Glands ◽

Fungal Infections ◽

Igg Antibodies ◽

Diseased Animal ◽

Fresh Tissue ◽

Intracellular Parasites ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii Infection ◽

Inflammatory Infiltrates ◽

Microscopic Findings

Toxoplasma gondii infection was diagnosed in 2 captive Patagonian maras ( Dolichotis patagonum). One animal developed fatal systemic toxoplasmosis and had concurrent localized bacterial and fungal infections; its daughter remained clinically healthy. Microscopic findings included acute, coagulative necrosis, lymphohistiocytic inflammatory infiltrates, and extra- and intracellular parasites in the liver, myocardium, urinary bladder, and adrenal glands of the diseased animal. PCR and subsequent genotyping of parasites from fresh tissue from both cases revealed infection with T. gondii genotype II. Direct agglutination testing of blood from the healthy individual revealed high levels of T. gondii IgG antibodies. T. gondii is a potential cause of disease and lethality in captive and wild Patagonian maras, and toxoplasmosis should be considered when managing and providing veterinary care for this species.

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Alterations of the myenteric plexus of the ileum and the descending colon caused by Toxoplasma gondii (genotype III)

Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria ◽

10.1590/s0004-282x2008000400015 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 66 (3a) ◽

pp. 516-523 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Elaine Yae Yamashita Sugauara ◽

Débora de Mello Gonçales Sant'Ana ◽

Elton Carlos de Almeida ◽

Anderson Brunetti Reis ◽

Aristeu Vieira da Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Acute Phase ◽

Terminal Ileum ◽

Neuronal Loss ◽

Chronic Phase ◽

Control Group ◽

Nacl Solution ◽

Genotype Iii ◽

Descending Colon ◽

Experimental Group

Alterations caused by a genotype III strain of Toxoplasma gondii were assessed with respect to the number and the morphometry of the myenteric neurons in the terminal ileum and the descending colon. Eighteen rats were divided into four groups: Acute Control Group (ACG, n=4); Acute Experimental Group (AEG, n=4); Chronic Control Group (CCG, n=5) and Chronic Experimental Group (CEG, n=5). NaCl solution was administered through gavage to the animals in the ACG and CCG. Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites (10(4)) from a genotype III strain were orally administered to the AEG and CEG. Acute Groups were died after 24 hours, and the Chronic Groups after 30 days. Neuronal loss was not observed in both organs. The neurons atrophied in the terminal ileum as the opposite occurred with the neurons at the descending colon during the chronic phase of infection. In the terminal ileum, the neurons atrophied during the chronic phase of the infection as no alteration was found during the acute phase. For the descending colon, the neurons became hypertrophic during the chronic infection in opposition to the atrophy found during the acute phase.

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