Evaluation of oxidative stress, hematological and biochemical parameters during Toxoplasma gondii infection in gerbils

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the alterations of oxidative stress, hematological and biochemical parameters in experimental infection caused by Toxoplasma gondii in gerbil. A total of 16 gerbil, 8 of which were control and 8 was infection group, were used in the study. The gerbils were infected by intraperitoneal inoculation of 5000 T. gondii RH strain tachyzoites. In group of, the gerbil were sacrificed at 7th day after inoculation. At the end of this period, blood samples collected and erythrocyte malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) activities, plasma aspartat aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotranspherase (ALT) activities, total protein, albumin, globulin were determined. Besides, hematological parameters were analysed in whole blood. Aspartat aminotransferase and ALT activities and MDA concentrations and neutrophil percentage and total leukocyte counts increased significantly in infected group when compared to control. In infected group, SOD activities, albumin concentrations and lymhocyte percentage decreased when compared to control. The results of this study suggest that oxidative stress, hematological and biochemical alterations may contribute to the pathogenesis of toxoplasmosis in gerbils.