Experimental infection with the Toxoplasma gondii ME-49 strain in the Brazilian BR-1 mini pig is a suitable animal model for human toxoplasmosis.
Toxoplasma gondii causes toxoplasmosis, a worldwide disease. Experimentation with pigs is necessary for the development of new therapeutic approaches to human diseases. BR-1 mini pigs were intramuscularly infected with T. gondii with tachyzoites (RH strain) or orally infected with cysts (ME-49 strain). Haematology and serum biochemistry were analysed and buffy coat cells were inoculated in mice to determine tachyzoite circulation. No alterations were observed in erythrocyte and platelet values; however, band neutrophils increased seven days after infection with ME-49. Serology of the mice inoculated with pig blood leucocytes revealed circulating ME-49 or RH strain tachyzoites in the pigs' peripheral blood at two and seven or nine days post-infection. The tachyzoites were also directly observed in blood smears from the infected pigs outside and inside leucocytes for longer periods. Alanine-aminotransferase was high at days 21 and 32 in the RH infected pigs. After 90 days, the pigs were euthanised and their tissue samples were processed and inoculated into mice. The mice serology revealed the presence of parasites in the hearts, ileums and mesenteric lymph nodes of the pigs. Additionally, cysts in the mice were only observed after pig heart tissue inoculation. The infected pigs presented similar human outcomes with relatively low pathogenicity and the BR-1 mini pig model infected with ME-49 is suitable to monitor experimental toxoplasmosis.
Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Tecidual.
Farlen José Bebber
FJ
Miranda
Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
Diogo Benchimol de
DB
Souza
Laboratório de Sanidade Animal.
Edwards
E
Frazão-Teixeira
Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Tecidual.
Fábio Conceição de
FC
Oliveira
Faculdade de Medicina de Campos, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brasil.
João Cardoso de
JC
Melo
Laboratório de Clínica e Cirurgia Animal.
Carlos Magno Anselmo
CM
Mariano
Laboratório de Clínica e Cirurgia Animal.
Antonio Peixoto
AP
Albernaz
Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brasil.
Eulógio Carlos Queiróz de
EC
Carvalho
Laboratório de Sanidade Animal.
Francisco Carlos Rodrigues de
FC
Oliveira
Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
Wanderley de
Wd
Souza
Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Tecidual.
Renato Augusto
RA
DaMatta
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000469:parasitology*; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000175:diagnosis; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013552:Swine / Q000097:blood / Q000469:parasitology; D013556:Swine, Miniature / Q000097:blood / Q000469:parasitology*; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000145:classification; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000097:blood / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology
D000410:Alanine Transaminase