The main clinical manifestations of nervous-mental complications in toxoplasmic infection and their non-specific prevention

The article is dedicated to topical problems of prevention of neuropsychiatric complications of socially significant parasitosis – toxoplasmosis in Ukraine. The clinical features of the course of chronic toxoplasmosis, changes in the bioelectrical activity of the brain in patients with toxoplasmosis in the acute stage are described. In order to objectify the assessment of the nature of damage to the nervous system of patients, an electroencephalographic (EEG) study was performed with visual assessment and computer processing of the results. Changes in the infrastructure of correlations between clinical and EEG parameters in patients with chronic toxoplasmosis in the acute stage before treatment are described. The main solutions for non-specific prevention of neuropsychiatric complications in this parasite are presented. The significance of the study of the parameters of bioelectrical activity of the brain in patients with toxoplasmosis, which can be used as auxiliary prognostic criteria, is substantiated. The main measures for the prevention of congenital toxoplasmosis, which is dangerous, especially for newborns and people with immunodeficiency, are outlined. The above is a necessary basis for improving the system of epidemiological monitoring for the spread of toxoplasmosis in Ukraine, and strengthening control by state institutions to prevent parasitological pollution, as well as the creation of a National Program for surveillance of parasitic infestations, to control the spread of parasitosis, and warn of severe consequences for the health of the infected

Toxoplasmic Infection-induced Injury in the Ileal Myenteric Plexus in Rats Depends on the Dose of Toxoplasma gondii Oocysts

Introduction The present study evaluated the effects of different inocula of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts on the ileal myenteric plexus in rats. Materials and Methods Male Wistar rats, 60 days old, were distributed into four groups: control group (CG; which received saline solution) and groups that were infected with 100 (TG100), 1000 (TG1000), and 5000 (TG5000) T. gondii oocysts. Thirty days after infection, the rats were sacrificed, and the ileum was collected to make whole-mount preparations that were subjected to immunofluorescence staining to observe the general neuronal population (HuC/D), nitrergic neurons (nNOS), and enteric glial cells (S100). Morphometric and quantitative analyses of myenteric neurons were performed. Results The infections with different T. gondii inocula did not cause neuronal or glial loss, but cause neuronal hypertrophy in general population and nitrergic subpopulation in infected groups. Conclusion: Changes in neuronal morphology were observed in the TG5000 group, including the presence of vacuoles, translocation of Hu protein to the nucleus, and dendritic distortions, suggesting functional alterations in these cells.

CLINICAL, HEMATOLOGICAL, AND SEMINAL ALTERATIONS AND PARASITEMIA OF MALE GOATS EXPERIMENTALLY INFECTED WITH Toxoplasma gondii

<title>Abstract:</title><p>Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease that affects reproductive performance in small ruminants. Although the <italic>Toxoplasma gondii</italic> life cycle is well understood since 1960s, several aspects related to its infection remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the effects of <italic>T. gondii</italic>experimental infection, and the influence on clinical, hematological, parasitemia and seminal parameters in male goats. Nine animals were selected and distributed in three groups: GI (n=3) – control group (placebo) orally inoculated with saline solution; GII (n=3) – subcutaneously inoculated with 1 x 106 tachyzoites of <italic>T. gondii</italic>; and GIII (n=3) – orally inoculated with 2 x 10⁵ oocysts of <italic>T. gondii</italic>. After that, clinical exams, serological tests, hemograms, parasitemia determination and semen evaluation were performed. Reciprocal serological titers had highest values of 4096 in both groups of goats infected with <italic>T. gondii,</italic>confirming the experimental infections. However, we could not observe clinical changes (except for mild hyperthermia on the 5^th DAI in one of the animals - GIII) or in hematimetric parameters. Although there were some statistically significant changes (P <0.05) on the percentages of pathology and sperm concentrations in some of the dates between the infected and control animals, these changes were not associated with toxoplasmic infection. Infection was associated with animal handling methods and environmental factors.</p>

Use of IgG in Oral Fluid To Monitor Infants with Suspected Congenital Toxoplasmosis

ABSTRACTInfants born to mothers who seroconverted for toxoplasmosis during pregnancy are at risk of sequelae. In the case of a negative work-up at birth, congenital infection can be ruled out only by monitoring the disappearance of maternal immunoglobulin G (IgG) transmitted through the placenta, which can be achieved by regular blood sampling during the first year. To alleviate the discomfort of this follow-up, we developed an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect specific IgG diffusing passively from the blood through the gingival epithelium by collecting oral fluid on microsponges. To assess the feasibility of the test, 212 patients were first enrolled. Levels of specific IgG in oral fluid were significantly higher in seropositive (n= 195) than in seronegative (n= 17) patients (mean optical densities, 1.145 ± 0.99 versus 0.092 ± 0.127;P< 0.0001). In a population of 93 patients <15 months of age born to mothers who displayed toxoplasmic infection during pregnancy, 70 were free of congenital infection and were followed up until their serology turned negative, and 23 were congenitally infected. The same patterns of IgG were observed in the oral fluid and sera in each group. Using a cutoff of 0.04 (optical density value), the sensitivity and specificity of the test were 67.9% and 80.3%, respectively, and the probability of not having a congenital infection when the test on oral fluid was negative was 99%. Although the performance of the test needs to be improved, oral fluid sampling appears to be a promising tool for monitoring infants with suspected congenital toxoplasmosis.

Combination of ELISA and RT-PCR tests in the diagnosis of toxoplasmic infection in aborted women and congenitally infected infants.

The diagnosis of toxoplasmic infection in aborted women and congenitally infected infants suspected to have toxoplasmosis infection can be difficult due to similarity symptoms with other diseases. A combination of symptoms, serology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)may facilitate diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in some patients. The present study compare the detection of toxoplasmosis infection by ELISA IgA and IgG antibodies with Real Time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)in the study subjects. A total of 81 sera samples, 57(70.3%) samples from aborted women and 24(29.7%)samples from congenitally infants have been studied. 49(86%) samples from the aborted women were positive and 8(14%) samples were negative as diagnosed by one or two of ELISA markers (IgAand IgG).The ELISA results indicated that 15(62.5%) samples from infants were positive and 9(37.5%) samples of them were negative. RT-PCR tests indicated that 33(67.3%) from the mothers and 6(40%) from the infants were agreed with ELISA positive samples. For ELISA negative samples, RT-PCR detected toxoplasmosis DNA in 4 (50%) and 2 (22.2%) for the mothers and infants respectively. Therefore, ELISA and RT-PCR can make a good combination tests in detection toxoplasmopsis infection.

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

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.

Histopathological analysis of the reproductive system of male dogs experimentally infected with Toxoplasma gondii

The present research aimed to describe possible histopathological alterations in the reproductive system (testicles and epididymis) of male dogs experimentally infected with Toxoplasma gondii. Canines (n=10) serologically negative for T. gondii were selected and distributed into three experimental groups: GI, 3 inoculated with 2.0 x 10(5)P strain oocysts; GII, 3 infected with 1.0 x 10(6)RH strain tachyzoites; and GIII, 4 control dogs. Antibody research (IFAT) against T. gondii was realized. Toxoplasma gondii infection was confirmed by seroconversion of the 6 males infected with tachyzoites and oocysts from postinoculation day (PID) 7 and 14, respectively. At PID 70, all dogs were submitted to orchiectomy and testicle and epididymis samples were collected and histologically processed for examination under optical microscope. The following alterations were diagnosed: mild and moderate mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate in the epididymis, moderate cellular edema, hydropic degeneration and moderate interstitial fibrosis in seminiferous tubules. The histopathological results in the present research, isolation of T. gondii in testicle and epididymis fragments by immunohistochemistry and results from the literature by other authors in different tissues, all infer that the alterations observed in dogs infected with T. gondii are suggestive of toxoplasmic infection.

Toxoplasma gondii in semen of experimentally infected swine

Eight reproductive boars were divided into three groups and inoculated with Toxoplasma gondii [GI (n=3) 1.5x10(4) oocysts strain P; GII (n=3) 1.0x10(6) tachyzoites strain RH; and GIII (n=2) non-inoculated control]. Clinical, hematological, parasitemia and serological tests and studies of the parasite in the semen through bioassay and PCR, and in reproductive organs (Bioassay and immunohistochemical analyses) were conducted to evaluate the toxoplasmic infection. Blood and semen were collected on day -2, -1, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 14 and weekly up to 84 days post-inoculation (DPI). No clinical or hematimetric alteration was observed in the boars. Parasitemia was detected in one boar inoculated with oocysts at the 7th DPI and in another boar infected with tachyzoites (GII) at the 3rd and 49th DPI. Serological tests revealed antibodies against T. gondii in animals inoculated with oocysts or tachyzoites at the 7th DPI with dilutions of 1:256 and 1:64, which reached peaks of 1:4096 at day 11 and 9, respectively. The bioassays revealed the presence of the parasite in semen samples of a boar inoculated with oocysts (GI) at 3, 49 and 56 DPI and from two boars infected with tachyzoites (GII), one animal at 5 and two animals at 49 days DPI. Mice inoculated with semen from the control group (GIII) remained serologically negative. PCR analysis showed T. gondii DNA in the semen of Boar 1 and Boar 3 inoculated with tachyzoites and oocysts, respectively. The immuno-histochemical tests showed T. gondii in the reproductive organs of Boar 1 and Boar 2, inoculated with tachyzoites and oocysts, respectively. These findings suggest the possible occurrence of venereal transmission of T. gondii in swine.