Assessment of selected molecular factors and 17-β estradiol dosage in response to Toxoplasma gondii infection in swine.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Toxoplasma gondii is a global zoonotic parasite infecting virtually all warm-blooded species, although a species-specific variability is evident referring to symptoms frame. Both the success of T. gondii and the outcome of infection depend on a delicate balance between host cellular pathways and the evasion or modulation strategies elicited by the parasite. The hormonal and molecular mechanisms involved in this delicate host-parasite balance are still unclear, especially when considering intermediate host species other than mouse. This study aimed to assess any correlation between T. gondii infection and selected molecular and hormonal factors involved in responses to infection in susceptible species such as swine. Moreover, blood counts and hematochemical assays (glucose, total cholesterol, and triglycerides dosage) were performed to evaluate the overall health condition of animals.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Toxoplasmosis was diagnosed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for antibodies determination and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for T. gondii DNA detection. Target genes coding for key factors of cell responses to T. gondii infection were selected, and their transcription was assessed in various tissues by quantitative RT-PCR. 17-β estradiol concentrations were assessed by fluorimetric enzyme-linked immunoassay and the AIA-360 automated immunoassay analyzer. Blood count and hematochemical analyses were performed by a blood cell counter and a spectrophotometer, respectively.

RESULTS: The present research highlighted significant differences among infected and uninfected swine (control group) for both transcription profiles of some of the molecular factors considered and 17-β estradiol concentrations. Referring to the assessed hematological and biochemical parameters, no statistically significant differences were observed in infected swine compared to the control group.

CONCLUSION: Our results contribute to the enrichment of data available about the subject and could be useful for a deeper knowledge of the interaction between this parasite and its hosts. However, more aspects are still unclear, such as the effective response of downstream molecules from the same pathways to the variation of factors observed in this study either assessing how the same factors respond to Toxoplasma gondii infection in other host speciesand further analyses should be performed on other host species.