Evaluation of aversive behavior in Rattus norvegicus experimentally infected by two distinct strains of Toxoplasma gondii (ME49 and VEG): study of epigenetic markers

Background:  Behavioral changes in Rattus norvegicus infected with two strains of Toxoplasma gondii (ME49 and VEG) were investigated.

Methods:  Rats were evaluated for motor activity and aversion or attraction to cat urine 60 days after infection. After euthanasia, arginine-vasopressin gene methylation in the central nervous system was evaluated.

Results:  A significant difference was observed in the methylation of the arginine-vasopressin promoter gene between rats infected with the ME49 and VEG strains.

Conclusions:  Although differences were not observed in many parameters, significant differences were observed in the methylation of the arginine-vasopressin promoter gene in rats infected with the two studied strains.

Keywords:
Toxoplasma gondii; ME49 and VEG strains; Rattus norvegicus; Behavior alterations; Arginine-vasopressin promoter gene