Toxoplasma gondii strain-dependent effects on mouse behaviour

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii reportedly manipulates rodent behaviour to increase transmission to its definitive feline host. We compared the effects of mouse infection by two type ii strains of T. gondii, Prugniaud (PrU) and ME49, on attraction to cat odour, locomotor activity, anxiety, sensorimotor gating, and spatial working and recognition memory 2 months post-infection (mpi). attraction to cat odour was reassessed 7 mpi. At 2 mpi, mice infected with either strain exhibited significantly more attraction to cat odour than uninfected animals did, but only PRU-infected mice exhibited this behaviour 7 mpi. PRU-infected mice had significantly greater body weights and hyperactivity, while ME49-infected mice exhibited impaired spatial working memory. No differences in parasite antibody titres were seen between PrU-and ME49-infected mice. the present data suggest the effect of T. gondii infection on mouse behaviour is parasite strain-dependent.

Toxoplasma gondiiinfection, from predation to schizophrenia: can animal behaviour help us understand human behaviour?

“…For example, whilst both Prugniaud (Pru) and ME49 have been reported to increase attraction to cat odour in mice at 2months post-infection, in at least one study this behaviour was no longer present with the ME49 strain at 7months (Kannan et al, 2010). Pru-infected mice in this study were also reported to have greater hyperactivity than their ME49-infected counterparts, whilst only the ME49-infected group showed impaired spatial working memory (Kannan et al, 2010).…”

“…Moreover, whilst uninfected rats show a strong innate aversion to predator odour, T. gondii infection appears to subtly alter the rats' cognitive perception of cat predation risk, turning their innate aversion into a 'suicidal' 'fatal feline attraction' (Berdoy et al, 2000;Vyas et al, 2007c;Webster et al, 2006). Such fatal feline attraction appears specific towards a response to cat (urine) odour, with no difference observed between infected and uninfected rats in their responses to odours of nonpredatory mammals such as rabbit (Berdoy et al, 2000;Vyas et al, 2007c;Webster et al, 2006) nor contrasting potential predatory species odours such as mink (Lamberton et al, 2008) or dog (Kannan et al, 2010). Furthermore, other key health and behavioural traits, such as social status and mating success, remain intact and indistinguishable between infected and uninfected rats (Berdoy et al, 1995) (but see Vyas, 2013).…”

“…Within Type II alone, variation in host cell gene expression Hill et al, 2012) and development (Diana et al, 2004), host immune and encephalitic response (Araujo and Slifer, 2003;Hill et al, 2012), parasite dissemination, reactivation and recrudescence (Saeij et al, 2005), and impact on host behaviour (Kannan et al, 2010) have all been reported between different strains. For example, whilst both Prugniaud (Pru) and ME49 have been reported to increase attraction to cat odour in mice at 2months post-infection, in at least one study this behaviour was no longer present with the ME49 strain at 7months (Kannan et al, 2010). Pru-infected mice in this study were also reported to have greater hyperactivity than their ME49-infected counterparts, whilst only the ME49-infected group showed impaired spatial working memory (Kannan et al, 2010).…”

Effects of Toxoplasma gondii infection on anxiety, depression and ghrelin level in male rats

“…This difference may be related in used parasite strain (Kannan et al 2010) rat strain (Gonzalez et al 2007) and host variations (Groër et al 2011(Groër et al , 2012. Kannan et al (2010) compared the effects of infection by two Type II strains of T. gondii, Prugniaud (PRU) and ME49, on mouse behavior. PRU infected mice showed increased locomotor activity in the open field, In contrast; only ME49-infected mice exhibited decreased spontaneous alternations in the Y-maze, indicative of impaired spatial working memory.…”

“…Recent studies demonstrated that T. gondii can modify brain function and intermediate host's behavior (Hermes et al 2008;Vyas et al 2007;Kannan et al 2010), and also increase the chances of serious psychological disturbances such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorders in human (Pearce et al 2012;Mortensen et al 2007). In addition there is correlation between T. gondii infection and mood disorders.…”