Experimental toxocariasis and hyperactivity in mice

Abstract

An observational study using videorecordings and computer-assisted data analysis was undertaken in order to investigate the behaviour of mice infected with larvae of Toxocara canis. The findings indicated that the infection had a marked effect on five readily and reliably differentiable categories of murine behaviour. A marked increase in the number of shorter bouts of each of the five behaviours was also associated with the infection. These results support previous findings and further suggest that T. canis infection affects the way in which mice respond to their environment. In particular the infection appears to be associated with hyperactivity in mice. Possible causes of such behavioural abnormalities as well as implications of these findings for clinical studies concerned with relationships between T. canis infection and hyperactivity in children are discussed.

BEHAVIORAL AND MEMORY CHANGES IN Mus musculus COINFECTED BY Toxocara canis AND Toxoplasma gondii

“…These changes can probably be considered as a means of facilitating the transmission of both parasites to their paratenic hosts by behavioral manipulation 4,7,10,12–14,20,39 .…”

The Consequences of Parasitic Infection for the Behavior of the Mammalian Host

“…It is surprising that this area of research has generated so little interest given the obvious impact of parasitic infection on several critical aspects of the behavior of the host ranging from sensory/motor processing (19,29,(54)(55)(56) and egression (57) to learning (18,31,34,58). Indeed, investigations of the role of physical health or disease (59-61) on psychological processes in general are relatively rare.…”

“…canis may alter a broad spectrum of behavior in the mouse, including reactivity to taste (19) and exploration of the environment (18,(28)(29)(30). Altered patterns of learning performance in mice (18) and rats (31) also have been seen following infection with T. canis.…”

“…Following infection with either T. canis (28)(29)(30) or S. mansoni (34), changes in motor activity have been observed. Nonetheless, we should be cautious in adopting a simplistic explanation of a causal relationship between general malaise, as reflected in motor behavior, and observed changes in behavior.…”

Alterações comportamentais em Rattus norvegicus experimentalmente infectados por Toxocara cati ou T. canis

“…alterações em seu comportamento exploratório e desempenho de aprendizagem (Burright et al, 1982;Dolinsk et al, 1981;Donovick e Burright, 1987;Hay et al, 1986).…”