Chronic Toxoplasma gondii Infection Potentiates Parkinson’s Disease Course in Mice Model

Nima  Firouzeh; Naser  Ziaali; Vahid  Sheibani; Amir Hossein  Doustimotlagh; Ali  Afgar; Maryam  Zamanpour; Hossein  Keshavarz; Saeideh  Shojaee; Reza  Shafiei; Khadijeh Esmaeilpour; Zahra  Babaei

doi:10.18502/ijpa.v16i4.7863

Nima Firouzeh Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Afzalipour Medical School, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Naser Ziaali Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Afzalipour Medical School, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Vahid Sheibani Neuroscience Research Center, Neuropharmacology Institute, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Amir Hossein Doustimotlagh Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran
Ali Afgar Research Center for Hydatid Disease in Iran, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Maryam Zamanpour Department of Medical Parasitology, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Hossein Keshavarz Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Saeideh Shojaee Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Reza Shafiei Vector-Borne Diseases Research Center, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran
Khadijeh Esmaeilpour Neuroscience Research Center, Neuropharmacology Institute, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Zahra Babaei Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijpa.v16i4.7863

Keywords: Toxoplasma gondii; Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP); Behavioral impairments; Inflammation; Anxiety behaviors; Parkinson

Abstract

Background: Toxoplasma gondii is a neuroinvasive protozoa pathogen that could manipulate its intermediate host's behavior. However, the possible link between T. gondii infection and the development of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease (PD) has been proposed, we tested the hypothesis that in chronic toxoplasmosis neuroinflammation, and molecular mediators potentiate behavioral-cognitive impairments in BALB/c mice with PD.

Methods: To establish chronic toxoplasmosis by Tehran strain, cysts of T. gondii were injected intraperitoneally into BALB/c mice in Kerman, Iran in 2019. To induce the PD model, mice (BALB/c) were treated with Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). The behavioral experiments such as anxiety and motor coordination were performed using the Open field and Rotarod tests. Additionally, we investigated the contribution of Toxoplasma-induced neuroinflammation, and behavioral-cognitive impairments in the PD mice model.

Results: Chronic toxoplasmosis caused PD-like symptoms and induced various behavioral changes in infected BALB/c mice. In T. gondii infected+MPTP treated group, T. gondii infection could potentiate PD in infected mice receiving MPTP and caused remarkable dysfunction in motor coordination and change in anxiety and depression-like behaviors similar or more severe than PD group.

Conclusion: Chronic T. gondii infection exacerbates pathological progression of PD in BALB/c mice brain by promoting neuroinflammation, and behavioral changes establishing.