alteration of liver function indices in rat infected with Toxoplasma gondii [RH strain]

ABSTRACT

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii. The migration of the parasite in blood as well as some organs like liver may cause some changes in physiological and biochemical indices in infected individuals. These may change the level of some indices like urea, total bilirubin, total protein, and albumin. The present investigation was conducted to study alteration of some liver functional indices of rats which were experimentally infected with Toxoplasma gondii. 80 non-infected rats and 60 non-infected mice were selected. Rats were divided into two groups of 60 test and 20 control rats. The test group was infected intraperitoneally with 5xl0[4] tachyzoites. Every 3 days for 60 days, three rats from test group and one rat from control group were bled. Standard techniques were used for urea, bilirubin, total protein and albumin tests. In addition, the livers of infected rats were searched biologically for presence of the parasite using intrapritoneal injection in mice method. The results indicated that, Toxoplasma cyst was present in the liver of infected rats within 6 to 27 days post infection. The parasite disappeared in liver after 28 days of infection. Biochemical results indicated that, urea from 6[th] to 60[th] day, total bilirubin from 6[th] to 27[th] day, albumin and total protein from 6[th] to 12[th] day post infection were increased but decreased to normal values afterward. Generally, temporary alteration of some biochemical indices during experimental infection of rat with toxoplasmosis may occur. The alteration mainly is due to the parasite migration to various tissues of the animal and it shifts to the normal condition following cyst formation in brain or muscles