INFLUENCE OF DEXAMETHASONE AND SEX ON SUSCEPTIBILITY OF MICE TO PRIMARY INFECTION WITH TOXOPLASMA GONDII

ALI, AMIRA TH. M.; ABDELHADY, DINA A. M.; BARAKAT, ASHRAF M.; SADEK, SABRY A. S.; ABOELELA, HEBA M.

doi:10.21608/jesp.2025.447400

INFLUENCE OF DEXAMETHASONE AND SEX ON SUSCEPTIBILITY OF MICE TO PRIMARY INFECTION WITH TOXOPLASMA GONDII

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Qaluby ia, Egypt

² Department of Zoonotic Diseases, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt

³ Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Qaluby ia, Egypt.

10.21608/jesp.2025.447400

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan parasite of health hazards, particularly to im
munocompromised individuals. Sexes difference in immune responses to infections are well
documented. This study evaluated the effects of sex on latent toxoplasmosis progression and
treatment efficacy in immunocompetent and immunocompromised mice. A total of 100 Swiss
Albino mice (50 males & 50 females) were infected with T. gondii (ME49 strain). Mice were
distributed into groups based on sex and immune status, receiving treatment with Spiramycin
(SP) and Metronidazole (MTZ) or remaining untreated. Assessments included mortality rate,
cyst counting in brain, histopathological studies of liver and brain, and molecular analysis of
parasitic DNA in brain.
The results showed that treatment significantly reduced brain cysts in immunocompetent
males (24.68%) and females (23.2%), but in immunocompromised males reduction was
(15.62%) and (11.72%) in females. Histopathological examination showed higher inflamm
atory responses in females than in males. Molecular analysis showed that infected females
showed significantly higher parasitic DNA concentrations than males.

Keywords