Immunopathological Study of Toxoplasmosis in Neotropical Primates

• Grant number: 22/08313-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: December 01, 2022
• End date: December 05, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Pathology
• Principal Investigator: Jose Luiz Catao Dias
• Grantee: Marina Pellegrino da Silva
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 23/06923-5 - Eco-epidemiological study of infection and susceptibility of Brazilian neotropical primates to Toxoplasma gondii, BE.EP.MS

Abstract

Brazil has one of the most diversity of primates in the world and it's a priority area for the conservation of these species. The agriculture expansion, habitat fragmentation, human population growth and climate change put these populations at risk and may facilitate the emergence and transmission of infectious diseases to them. Neotropical primates are highly susceptible to toxoplasmosis, a zoonosis disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, capable of producing different patterns of infection in these animals, as mild symptoms in some species and acute death in others. South America has the major genetic diversity of T. gondii strains in the world, but there's a lack of knowledge about the correlation between their virulence and hosts immune responses. Understanding the immune responses differences between species may help to elucidate susceptibility and resistance differences between them. The present study attempts to characterize tecidual immune responses of neotropical primates with toxoplasmosis. Thus, through the immunohistochemistry technique, immune markers of histiocytes, lymphocytes and cytokines will be applied in tissue slides ( liver, spleen and brain) of 57 neotropical primates with toxoplasmosis confirmed through molecular, immunohistochemistry and histopathology diagnostics. We expect to understand the immunopathologic differences caused by toxoplasmosis in wild neotropical primates and their correlation with atypical genotypes. Hopefully we can get some insights about the susceptibility and resistance factors of some species, get to know more about their immune system and contribute to conservation efforts of these species