BibTex format
@article{Milne:2020:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.513536,
author = {Milne, G and Fujimoto, C and Bean, T and Peters, HJ and Hemmington, M and Taylor, C and Fowkes, RC and Martineau, HM and Hamilton, CM and Walker, M and Mitchell, JA and Leger, E and Priestnall, SL and Webster, JP},
doi = {10.3389/fpsyt.2020.513536},
journal = {Frontiers in Psychiatry},
pages = {1--16},
title = {Infectious causation of abnormal host behavior: toxoplasma gondiiand Its potential association with dopey fox syndrome},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.513536},
volume = {11},
year = {2020}
}
RIS format (EndNote, RefMan)
TY - JOUR
AB - The apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, can infect all warm-blooded animals. T. gondii can subtly alter host behaviors—either through manipulation to enhance transmission to the feline definitive host or as a side-effect, or “constraint,” of infection. In humans, T. gondii infection, either alone or in association with other co-infecting neurotropic agents, has been reliably associated with both subtle behavioral changes and, in some cases, severe neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. Research on the potential impact of T. gondii on the behavior of other long-lived naturally infected hosts is lacking. Recent studies reported a large number of wild red foxes exhibiting a range of aberrant behavioral traits, subsequently classified as Dopey Fox Syndrome (DFS). Here we assessed the potential association between T. gondii and/or other neurotropic agents with DFS. Live, captive foxes within welfare centers were serologically tested for T. gondii and, if they died naturally, PCR-tested for vulpine circovirus (FoxCV). Post-mortem pseudo-control wild foxes, obtained from pest management companies, were PCR-tested for T. gondii, FoxCV, canine distemper virus (CDV), canine adenovirus type (CAV)-1 and CAV-2. We also assessed, using non-invasive assays, whether T. gondii–infected foxes showed subtle behavioral alterations as observed among infected rodent (and other) hosts, including altered activity, risk, and stress levels. All foxes tested negative for CAV, CDV, CHV, and DogCV. DFS was found to be associated with singular T. gondii infection (captives vs. pseudo-controls, 33.3% (3/9) vs. 6.8% (5/74)) and singular FoxCV infection (66.7% (6/9) vs. 11.1% (1/9)) and with T. gondii/FoxCV co-infection (33.3% (3/9) vs. 11.1% (1/9)). Overall, a higher proportion of captive foxes had signs of neuroinflammation compared to pseudo-controls (66.7% (4/6) vs. 11.1% (1/9)). Consistent with behavioral changes
AU - Milne,G
AU - Fujimoto,C
AU - Bean,T
AU - Peters,HJ
AU - Hemmington,M
AU - Taylor,C
AU - Fowkes,RC
AU - Martineau,HM
AU - Hamilton,CM
AU - Walker,M
AU - Mitchell,JA
AU - Leger,E
AU - Priestnall,SL
AU - Webster,JP
DO - 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.513536
EP - 16
PY - 2020///
SN - 1664-0640
SP - 1
TI - Infectious causation of abnormal host behavior: toxoplasma gondiiand Its potential association with dopey fox syndrome
T2 - Frontiers in Psychiatry
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.513536
UR - http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000576276600001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.513536/full
VL - 11
ER -