RT Journal Article
T1 Archetypal type II and III Toxoplasma gondii oocysts induce different immune responses and clinical outcomes in experimentally infected piglets
A1 Largo de la Torre, Andrea
A1 Diezma Díaz, Carlos
A1 Calero Bernal, Rafael
A1 Atencia Cibreiro, Gabriela
A1 Sánchez Sánchez, Roberto
A1 Ferré Pérez, Ignacio
A1 Regidor Cerrillo, Javier
A1 Ortega Mora, Luis Miguel
AB Livestock animals, such as swine, are an important source of Toxoplasma gondii in the human population. Currently, there is limited knowledge regarding the potential influence that the T. gondii genotype might exert on establishing infection in swine. Herein, we investigated the role of 2 T. gondii isolates, type II and III, representative of the genotypes circulating in Europe, in the immune responses and infection dynamics in piglets. Recently obtained oocysts (103) from the T. gondii field isolates TgShSp1 (type II, ToxoDB genotype #3) and TgShSp24 (type III, #2) were used for oral infection. Thirteen 50-day-old female piglets of the Landrace-Large White crossbreed were randomly allocated into three different groups: Group 1 (G1, n=5), inoculated with TgShSp1; Group 2 (G2, n=5), inoculated with TgShSp24; and Group 3 (G3, n=3), a non-infected control group. Clinical signs were monitored daily until 42 days post-infection (dpi) when piglets were euthanized. Blood samples were collected weekly to test the cellular immune response in parasite-stimulated peripheral blood and specific IgG, IgG1 and IgG2, responses in sera. Parasite distribution and burden were evaluated in target tissues using a mouse bioassay and quantitative RT-PCR (qPCR). Apathy and a moderate decrease in feed consumption were observed in G1 and G2 piglets between 5 and 8 dpi, coinciding with fever (>40°C). G2 piglets had higher temperatures for a longer duration. Using mouse bioassay and qPCR, the detection frequency was higher in G2 vs. G1, and the highest parasite burdens in target tissues were also found in G2. Seroconversion was detected at 14 dpi in both infected groups, but higher antibody levels were observed in G2 piglets. Cytokine analyses revealed the production of IL-8, IL-1β and IFN-ɤ from 7 dpi in both infected groups. Moreover, IL-12 was produced from 7 dpi in G1 and from 14 dpi in G2. Levels of IL-8 were higher in G2, but IL-1β, IL-12 and IFN-ɤ were higher in G1 at 14 dpi. This cytokine profile reveals a predominant proinflammatory response that could be involved in limiting T. gondii infection in piglets, although it is more efficient against TgShSp1 type II-driven infection.
PB Frontiers
YR 2022
FD 2022
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/111901
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/111901
LA eng
NO Largo-de la Torre A, Diezma-D´ıaz C, Calero-Bernal R, Atencia-Cibreiro G, Sa´ nchez-Sa´ nchez R, Ferre I, Regidor-Cerrillo J and Ortega-Mora LM (2022) Archetypal type II and III Toxoplasma gondii oocysts induce different immune responses and clinical outcomes in experimentally infected piglets. Front. Immunol. 13:1021556. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1021556
NO JUSTIFICACIÓN DE AUTORES:LMO-M, JR-C, IF, RC-B, CD-D, and RS-S conceived the study and participated in its design. AL, CD-D, GA-C, and RS-S participated in inoculation and clinical examination of animals, performed necropsies and sampling of the animals. RS-S carried out the oocyst production. AL, CD-D, and JR-C analysed the data, carried out statistical analyses and interpreted the results. AL and JR-C wrote the manuscript with result interpretation and inputs from CD-D, RC-B, RS-S, IF, and LMO-M. All authors contributed to manuscript revision, read, and approved the submitted version.
NO Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (España)
NO European Commission
DS Docta Complutense
RD 8 abr 2025