INFLUENCE OF DEXAMETHASONE AND SEX ON SUSCEPTIBILITY OF MICE TO PRIMARY INFECTION WITH TOXOPLASMA GONDII
ALI, A., ABDELHADY, D., BARAKAT, A., SADEK, S., ABOELELA, H. (2025). INFLUENCE OF DEXAMETHASONE AND SEX ON SUSCEPTIBILITY OF MICE TO PRIMARY INFECTION WITH TOXOPLASMA GONDII. EKB Journal Management System, 55(2), 233-241. doi: 10.21608/jesp.2025.447400
AMIRA TH. M. ALI; DINA A. M. ABDELHADY; ASHRAF M. BARAKAT; SABRY A. S. SADEK; HEBA M. ABOELELA. "INFLUENCE OF DEXAMETHASONE AND SEX ON SUSCEPTIBILITY OF MICE TO PRIMARY INFECTION WITH TOXOPLASMA GONDII". EKB Journal Management System, 55, 2, 2025, 233-241. doi: 10.21608/jesp.2025.447400
ALI, A., ABDELHADY, D., BARAKAT, A., SADEK, S., ABOELELA, H. (2025). 'INFLUENCE OF DEXAMETHASONE AND SEX ON SUSCEPTIBILITY OF MICE TO PRIMARY INFECTION WITH TOXOPLASMA GONDII', EKB Journal Management System, 55(2), pp. 233-241. doi: 10.21608/jesp.2025.447400
ALI, A., ABDELHADY, D., BARAKAT, A., SADEK, S., ABOELELA, H. INFLUENCE OF DEXAMETHASONE AND SEX ON SUSCEPTIBILITY OF MICE TO PRIMARY INFECTION WITH TOXOPLASMA GONDII. EKB Journal Management System, 2025; 55(2): 233-241. doi: 10.21608/jesp.2025.447400

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

Journal of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology
Volume 55, Issue 2, August 2025, Page 233-241  XML PDF (1.09 MB)
Document Type: Original Article
DOI: 10.21608/jesp.2025.447400
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Authors
AMIRA TH. M. ALI1; DINA A. M. ABDELHADY1; ASHRAF M. BARAKAT2; SABRY A. S. SADEK2; HEBA M. ABOELELA email 3
1Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Qaluby ia, Egypt
2Department of Zoonotic Diseases, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt
3Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Qaluby ia, Egypt.
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
Toxoplasma gondii; Spiramycin; Metronidazole; Sexes; Dexamethasone mice
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