title: Histopathological lesions in encephalon and heart of mice infected with Toxoplasma gondii increase after Lycopodium clavatum 200dH treatment.
abstract: In many cases, symptoms of toxoplasmosis are mistaken for the ones of other infectious diseases. Clinical signs are rare in immunocompetent people. However, when they arise, in the acute phase of infection, several organs are affected due to the rapid spread of tachyzoites through the bloodstream. In the present study, the reduction of tachyzoites in peripheral blood of mice of G72 (infected 72h after treatment) and G48 (infected 48h after treatment and treated three more times), when compared with IC (infected and non-treated), suggests protective effect exerted by Lycopodium clavatum. If on the one hand L. clavatum brought benefits, reducing parasitemia, on the other hand, the parasitism became exacerbated. Histopathological analysis demonstrated focal, multifocal and diffuse inflammatory infiltrates, ranging from absent, discreet, moderate to intense, in heart and encephalon of mice of NIC (non-infected and non-treated), IC, G48 and G72 groups, respectively. In the perivascular region and meninges, the injuries were enlarged. The presence of tachyzoites was demonstrated through immunohistochemical (IHC) assay in myocardium. Toxoplasma gondii induced increase of collagen fibers in myocardium of mice of G72 and G48 groups, compared with IC (p<0.05) and NIC (p<0.001). The presence of inflammatory infiltrates, as well as the progressive fibrosis, caused myocardial remodeling in animals treated with L. clavatum. Counterstaining with H&E suggests TGF-β expression by mononuclear cells in the inflammatory infiltrate. Based on our results, we can conclude that the adopted regimen and potency exerted a protective effect, reducing parasitemia. However, it intensified the histopathological lesions in encephalon and heart of mice infected with T. gondii.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Pathology, State University of Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Andréia Vieira
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphological Sciences, State University of Maringa, Maringa, PR, Brazil. Electronic address: marcelobiondaro@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Marcelo Biondaro
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Góis
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculdade Inga, Maringa, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Katiucha Rebeca Jennifer Lopes
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Lera
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, State University of Maringa, Maringa, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gislane Janaina
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Falkowski-Temporini
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, State University of Maringa, Maringa, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paula Fernanda
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Massini
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, State University of Maringa, Maringa, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo Nascimento
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Drozino
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, State University of Maringa, Maringa, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Denise Lessa
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Aleixo
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Pathology, State University of Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Milena Menegazzo
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphological Sciences, State University of Maringa, Maringa, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: da Silva Watanabe
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Pathology, State University of Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ivete
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Conchon-Costa
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Pathology, State University of Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Idessania Nazareth
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: da Costa
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculdade Inga, Maringa, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mário
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dos Anjos Neto Filho
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, State University of Maringa, Maringa, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Silvana Marques
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: de Araújo
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Pathology, State University of Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Wander Rogério
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Pavanelli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects / Q000469:parasitology*; D032502:Lycopodium; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Encephalitis; Inflammatory infiltrates; Myocarditis; Toxoplasmosis