TOXOPLASMOSIS: MORPHOLOGICAL AND MORPHOMETRIC EVALUATION OF SPINAL CORD NEURONS FROM NONSYMPTOMATIC SEROPOSITIVE DOGS

Authors

  • Alessandra Cristina Francischini Carvalho São Paulo State University - UNESP Campus Jaboticabal
  • Maria Rita Pacheco São Paulo State University - UNESP Campus Jaboticabal
  • Silvana Martinez Baraldi-Artoni São Paulo State University - UNESP Campus Jaboticabal
  • Annita Morais Girardi São Paulo State University - UNESP Campus Jaboticabal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/cab.v16i2.18991

Keywords:

Canine, Central nervous system, Histology, Toxoplasma gondii

Abstract

The aim of this work was to analyze the neuron morphology and morphometry of cervical, thoracic and lumbar areas of nonsymptomatic seropositive dogs’ spinal cord for toxoplasmosis. Twenty indefinite-breed adult dogs were used; ten dogs were healthy, with negative serology for toxoplasmosis, and were used as the control group (group 1), and ten dogs were nonsymptomatic but seropositive for toxoplasmosis (group 2).  After the microtomy, with interval of 100 micrometers (µm), the histological 5-µm-thick cuts were dyed by hematoxylin-eosin and Masson's trichrome techniques. The glass slides were analyzed under light microscope to examine the neuron morphology. The parameters considered for the morphometric analysis were area, perimeter, maximum diameter, minimum diameter and shape factor of cytoplasm and nucleus of neuron. The results were statistically analyzed by Student’s t test at 5% probability level. The morphological characteristics between the two groups were similar and according to literature. The morphometric results showed that there were changes in neurons size and structure, and increase and loss of star shape were noticed in seropositive animals. The results suggest that the neurons of these dogs, yet nonsymptomatic, can have lost their conductor function.

Keywords: canine; central nervous system; histology; Toxoplasma gondii.

 

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Author Biographies

Alessandra Cristina Francischini Carvalho, São Paulo State University - UNESP Campus Jaboticabal

PhD in Veterinary Medicine

Maria Rita Pacheco, São Paulo State University - UNESP Campus Jaboticabal

Professor, Department of Animal Morphology and Physiology

Silvana Martinez Baraldi-Artoni, São Paulo State University - UNESP Campus Jaboticabal

Professor, Department of Animal Morphology and Physiology

Annita Morais Girardi, São Paulo State University - UNESP Campus Jaboticabal

PhD student in Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Clinics and Surgery

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Published

2015-04-30

How to Cite

CARVALHO, A. C. F.; PACHECO, M. R.; BARALDI-ARTONI, S. M.; GIRARDI, A. M. TOXOPLASMOSIS: MORPHOLOGICAL AND MORPHOMETRIC EVALUATION OF SPINAL CORD NEURONS FROM NONSYMPTOMATIC SEROPOSITIVE DOGS. Brazilian Animal Science/ Ciência Animal Brasileira, Goiânia, v. 16, n. 2, p. 225–234, 2015. DOI: 10.1590/cab.v16i2.18991. Disponível em: https://revistas.ufg.br/vet/article/view/18991. Acesso em: 7 jul. 2024.

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 2 (2015)

Section

Veterinary Medicine

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