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Toxoplasma gondii: host–parasite interaction and behavior manipulation

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Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that causes different lesions in men and other warm-blooded animals. Humoral and cellular immune response of the host against the parasite keeps the protozoan in a latent stage, and clinical disease ensues when immunological response is compromised. Brain parasitism benefits the parasite causing behavioral changes in the host, not only in animals but also in humans. Schizophrenia and epilepsy are two neurological disorders that have recently been reported to affect humans coinfected with T. gondii. Further studies based on host–parasite interaction in several wild or domestic warm-blooded species are still necessary in order to better understand parasitism and behavioral changes caused by T. gondii.

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Acknowledgments

We thank UNESP for the logistical support and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) for the Ph.D. grant # 2006/02486-4 and financial support # 2006/07198-7.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Veterinary Hygiene and Animal Science (DHVSP), College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (FMVZ), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Campus of Botucatu, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil

    Rodrigo Costa da Silva & Helio Langoni

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  1. Rodrigo Costa da Silva
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  2. Helio Langoni
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Correspondence to Rodrigo Costa da Silva.

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da Silva, R.C., Langoni, H. Toxoplasma gondii: host–parasite interaction and behavior manipulation. Parasitol Res 105, 893–898 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-009-1526-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-009-1526-6

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