Muscular strength decrease in Rattus norvegicus experimentally infected by Toxocara canis

Abstract

suMMARYThe muscular strength of experimental infected Rattus norvegicus with 3 rd. stage Toxocara canis larvae was investigated. Fifty Wistar rats, divided in three groups (G1 -20 rats infected by 300 eggs of T. canis; G2 -20 rats infected by 2,000 eggs of T. canis and G3 -10 rats without infection) had been used. Ten and 30 days after infection the muscular strength in the fore-feet of the rats was checked; at the same time, the body weight was determined. No significative differences in the body weight were noted among the infected and control rats in both occasions. Otherwise, an impairment on the muscular strength was observed in rats infected with T. canis 30 days after inoculation.

Behavioral changes in Rattus norvegicus experimentally infected by Toxocara canis larvae

“…The results of the present paper, associated with recent research published by CHIEFFI et al (2009) 3 , provide some support to the Am = arithmetic mean; SD = standard deviation; *number of times, **measured in seconds, ***p < 0.05. hypothesis that the interaction between T. canis, rodents and dogs suffers manipulation in order to enhance the transmission rate of this ascarid via a prey-predator relationship. Thus, as presented in Table 1, analysis of the data revealed an improvement in the mobility (total locomotion time and rearing frequency) of rats 30 days after infection with 2,000 eggs of T. canis and, consequently, in the rats' environmental exploratory behavior.…”

“…Nevertheless, the results verified in the elevated plus-maze apparatus, the improvement in mobility and exploratory behavior associated with the muscular strength impairment observed in rats after 30 days of infection by T. canis larvae 3 indicate the possible occurrence of transient manipulation of rodent behavior, which could result in the enhancement of the transmission rate of this ascarid by prey-predation interactions.…”

“…Recently, one study reported diminished muscular strength in R. norvegicus experimentally infected by T. canis larvae, suggesting some enhancement of the preypredation mechanisms of infection 3 .…”

Human toxocariasis: contribution by Brazilian researchers

“…This year, CHIEFFI et al 23 investigated the effect of muscular migration of T. canis larvae on the muscular strength of infected R. norvegicus. The results obtained in this assay reinforced the hypothesis that infection by T. canis induces a decrease in muscular force and, thus, facilitates ascarid transmission via the prey-predator relationship.…”

Migration pattern of Toxocara canis larvae in experimentally infected male and female Rattus norvegicus

“…There is evidence that rodents experimentally infected with Toxocara canis display altered behavior and impairment of muscular strength [6][7][8] .…”