Neuroinflammation-Associated Aspecific Manipulation of Mouse Predator Fear by Toxoplasma gondii.
Cell Rep
; 30(2): 320-334.e6, 2020 01 14.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-31940479
ABSTRACT
In rodents, the decrease of felid aversion induced by Toxoplasma gondii, a phenomenon termed fatal attraction, is interpreted as an adaptive manipulation by the neurotropic protozoan parasite. With the aim of understanding how the parasite induces such specific behavioral modifications, we performed a multiparametric analysis of T. gondii-induced changes on host behavior, physiology, and brain transcriptome as well as parasite cyst load and distribution. Using a set of complementary behavioral tests, we provide strong evidence that T. gondii lowers general anxiety in infected mice, increases explorative behaviors, and surprisingly alters predator aversion without selectivity toward felids. Furthermore, we show a positive correlation between the severity of the behavioral alterations and the cyst load, which indirectly reflects the level of inflammation during brain colonization. Taken together, these findings refute the myth of a selective loss of cat fear in T. gondii-infected mice and point toward widespread immune-related alterations of behaviors.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Toxoplasma
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Comportamento Animal
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Encéfalo
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Toxoplasmose
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Comportamento Exploratório
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Medo
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Interações Hospedeiro-Parasita
Tipo de estudo:
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Cell Rep
Ano de publicação:
2020
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Suíça