ABSTRACT
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