Acute toxoplasmosis can increase serum dopamine level.

Area of Science:

• Parasitology
• Neuroscience
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Toxoplasmosis, caused by *Toxoplasma gondii*, is a widespread parasitic zoonotic disease.
• Chronic toxoplasmosis is linked to behavioral changes and neuropsychological symptoms in humans, potentially involving neurotransmitter alterations.
• Dopamine, a key neurotransmitter, is implicated in host behavior modification during parasitic infections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate serum dopamine level fluctuations during the acute phase of murine toxoplasmosis.
• To understand the relationship between *Toxoplasma gondii* infection and dopamine production dynamics.

Main Methods:

• Fifty mice were infected with *Toxoplasma gondii*, divided into five groups.
• Daily blood samples were collected from one group each day for five consecutive days post-infection.
• Serum dopamine levels were quantified using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).

Main Results:

• Serum dopamine levels in infected mice remained comparable to healthy controls for the first four days post-infection.
• A significant increase in serum dopamine levels was observed starting from the fifth day after parasite inoculation.
• These findings indicate a delayed but progressive rise in dopamine production following *Toxoplasma gondii* infection.

Conclusions:

• Dopamine production increases in mice infected with *Toxoplasma gondii* from day five onwards.
• Acute toxoplasmosis is characterized by initially low dopamine levels, with a trend towards increased production as the infection progresses towards a chronic state.
• This study provides insights into the neurochemical changes associated with acute toxoplasmosis, highlighting dopamine as a potential factor in host response.