title: Kinetics of acute infection with Toxoplasma gondii and histopathological changes in the duodenum of rats.
abstract: Toxoplasma gondii crosses the intestinal barrier to spread into the body. We investigate the intestinal wall and epithelial cells of the duodenum of rats infected with T. gondii during different time points of acute infection. Male Wistar rats, 60 days of age, were assigned into groups that were orally inoculated with 5000 sporulated oocysts T. gondii for 6 h (G6), 12 h (G12), 24 h (G24), 48 h (G48), 72 h (G72), 7 days (G7d), and 10 days (G10d). The control group (CG) received saline. The rats were killed and the duodenum was processed to obtain histological sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin, Periodic Acid Schiff, and Alcian blue (pH 2.5 and 1.0). Morphometry was performed on the layers of the intestinal wall and enterocytes, and the number of goblet cells and intraepithelial lymphocytes was counted. The data were compared by ANOVA considering 5% as level of significance. The infection provoked an increase in the width of villi and crypts; decrease in enterocyte height; increase in the smaller-diameter and reduction in the larger-diameter of the enterocytes nuclei, increased number of goblet cells secreting neutral (G6, G12 and G7d) and acidic (G7d and G10d) mucus, and increase in the number of intraepithelial lymphocytes (G48). The infected groups showed atrophy of the submucosa and muscular layers and the total wall. Acute infection with T. gondii caused morphological changes in the intestinal wall and epithelial cells of the duodenum in rats.
authors.affiliation: Biosciences and Physiopathology Program, State University of Maringá, Avenida Colombo, n° 5790, Bloco T-20, Maringá, PR, CEP 87020-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aline Rosa
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Trevizan
authors.affiliation: Biosciences and Physiopathology Program, State University of Maringá, Avenida Colombo, n° 5790, Bloco T-20, Maringá, PR, CEP 87020-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Suellen Laís
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Vicentino-Vieira
authors.affiliation: Biosciences and Physiopathology Program, State University of Maringá, Avenida Colombo, n° 5790, Bloco T-20, Maringá, PR, CEP 87020-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: da Silva Watanabe
authors.affiliation: Biosciences and Physiopathology Program, State University of Maringá, Avenida Colombo, n° 5790, Bloco T-20, Maringá, PR, CEP 87020-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo Biondaro
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Góis
authors.affiliation: Biosciences and Physiopathology Program, State University of Maringá, Avenida Colombo, n° 5790, Bloco T-20, Maringá, PR, CEP 87020-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gessilda de Alcântara Nogueira
authors.initials: Gde A
authors.lastname: de Melo
authors.affiliation: State University of Londrina, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, Pr 445 Km 380, Londrina, PR, CEP 86057-970, Brazil.
authors.forename: João Luiz
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.affiliation: State University of Londrina, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, Pr 445 Km 380, Londrina, PR, CEP 86057-970, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: José de Almeida Araújo
authors.affiliation: Biosciences and Physiopathology Program, State University of Maringá, Avenida Colombo, n° 5790, Bloco T-20, Maringá, PR, CEP 87020-900, Brazil. Electronic address: dmgsantana@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Débora de Mello Gonçales
authors.initials: Dde M
authors.lastname: Sant'Ana
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D002452:Cell Count; D004386:Duodenum / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology*; D020895:Enterocytes / Q000473:pathology; D020397:Goblet Cells / Q000166:cytology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D007700:Kinetics; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D008297:Male; D008871:Microvilli / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G
keywords: Acute infection; Duodenum; Intestinal mucosa; Intestinal wall; Morphometry; Toxoplasma