Toxoplasma gondii (Nicolle & Manceaux, 1909) research in semen of primo-infected cats (Felis catus)

• Grant number: 13/15352-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: November 01, 2013
• End date: August 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Preventive Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Alvimar José da Costa
• Grantee: Weslen Fabricio Pires Teixeira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The objective of this study will be to diagnose the presence of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) in semen samples and in tissues from the reproductive system (testis and epidydimis) of cats experimentally infected by these coccidia. No similar study was found in consulted literature. To achieve the results, six male cats, in reproductive age, serologically negative for T. gondii, Will be selected for the constitution of two experimental groups. Four animals will be subcutaneously inoculated with tachyzoites of the RH strain (GI) and two animals will be kept as uninfected controls (GII). The direct and indirect presence of this parasite will be evaluated, in both groups, by serological exams (indirect immunofluorescence) and by research of the parasite in semen samples using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). At the end of the semen collection period, all six animals will be orchiectomized and the fragments of testis and epidydimis will be collected for histopathological and immunohistochemical exams. Tissue parasitism by T. gondii in these organs will also be evaluated through PCR. As a secondary objective, all animals will undergo clinical and hematological exams, including parasitemy. Comparisons between averages of both groups will be performed applying the Tukey test, with a 95% significance level.

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

TEIXEIRA, Weslen Fabricio Pires. Pesquisa de Toxoplasma gondii (Nicolle & Manceaux, 1909) em sêmen, testículos e epidídimos de gatos (Felis catus) primoinfectados. 2014. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias. Jaboticabal Jaboticabal.