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. 2025 May 12;25(1):690.
doi: 10.1186/s12879-025-11062-7.

Strain-dependent effects of Toxoplasma gondii on ovarian health and inflammation in a rat model

Reyhaneh Moghaddami  1 , Kimia Moradi  1 , Mahdi Mahdipour  1   2 , Abdol Sattar Pagheh  3 , Jafar Razeghi  4 , Nahideh Nazdikbin Yamchi  1   2 , Monir Khordadmehr  5 , Ahmad Nematollahi  5 , Behzad Ghorbanzadeh  5 , Ehsan Ahmadpour  6   7
Affiliations

Strain-dependent effects of Toxoplasma gondii on ovarian health and inflammation in a rat model

Reyhaneh Moghaddami et al. BMC Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii, an obligatory intracellular parasite, is the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, a widespread disease affecting approximately one-third of the global population. This study investigates the strain-specific effects of T. gondii infection on immune responses, reproductive physiology, and oxidative stress in Wistar rats, comparing the highly virulent RH strain to the less virulent VEG strain. The results show that the RH strain significantly reduced levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 (p < 0.01) while increasing pro-inflammatory IFN-γ (p < 0.05), suggesting a strong inflammatory response. In contrast, the VEG strain produced a more balanced immune profile, with no significant change in IL-10 and a moderate rise in IFN-γ. Although no visible damage to ovarian tissue was observed in any group, the RH strain resulted in a higher number of growing follicles (p < 0.05), while the VEG strain led to significantly larger follicles (p < 0.05). Both strains elevated CRP levels, with the RH strain inducing a more significant inflammatory response. However, oxidative stress markers showed no significant differences among the experimental groups. In conclusion, the findings indicate that the highly virulent RH strain elicits a strong inflammatory response, whereas the less virulent VEG strain induces a more moderate immune reaction, without causing significant damage to ovarian tissue.

Keywords: Toxoplasma strains; Immune modulation; Ovarian physiology; Toxoplasmosis.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: All the protocols of the present study were ethically approved by Iran National Science Foundation (No. 4020748) and local ethics committee of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences (IR.TBZMED.AEC.1403.051). Consent for publication: Not applicable.Availability of data and materials. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
IFN-γ and IL-10 levels in different experimental groups
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
LH, FSH, and estradiol levels in different experimental groups
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
GPX, SOD, MDA, and TAC levels in different experimental groups
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Serum CRP levels in different experimental groups
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Histological analysis of ovarian tissue in experimental groups (H&E stain). A: Sham group displaying a normal ovarian parenchymal structure. B: Control group exhibiting a normal ovarian parenchymal structure. C: RH-recipient group showing a normal ovarian architecture. D: VEG-recipient group presenting a normal ovarian structure. Arrows indicate developing follicles, varying in number and size. The RH group shows an increased number of growing follicles, while the VEG group is characterized by larger growing follicles. Asterisks indicate the corpus luteum
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