Introduction: Acute Toxoplasmosis is more critical in immunocompromised patients with cancer. The present study was conducted to investigate the anti-TOXOPLASMA gondi antibodies and assess the toxoplasmosis risk in women with breast masses in western of Iran in 2012. This research was done as a case-control study on women who referred to the treatment centers in cities of Kermanshah and Ilam in 2011.Materials and methods: 60 women with breast cancer were selected as cases, and also 60 healthy ones as the control group. They were evaluated in terms of IgG, IgM, estrogen and progesterone levels using immunoassay method. Women in this study were in the secretory phase and were under the age of menopause. Results were analyzed using SPSS software 16 with independent T test.Results: Relationship between TOXOPLASMA GONDII (T. GONDII) infection and breast cancer was statistically significant (P<0.01). There was a significant relationship between anti-TOXOPLASMA IgG antibody and breast cancer (P=0.01). Women with breast cancer and healthy women were not reported positive in terms of IgM anti-TOXOPLASMA. Significant relationship was detected between estrogen and TOXOPLASMA in women with breast cancer (P<0.01). There was no significant relationship between the level of progesterone and anti-TOXOPLASMA antibodies. A total of 30 patients (50%) from the women under study had the tumor marker CEA 19-9 (Carcino embryonic antigen).Conclusion: Patients with breast tumors may be at risk of opportunistic infections such as toxoplasmosis. Therefore, periodic examination of breast cancer patients should be conducted by clinicians to prevent the potential occurrence of toxoplasmosis.

Background: TOXOPLASMA GONDII can infect a wide range of mammalians, especially humans. It controls several intracellular signals for the inhibition of apoptosis. This study aimed to investigate the apoptogenic effect of cisplatin and sodium azide on T. GONDII infected HeLa cells and isolate apoptotic bodies (blebs) as a potent stimulator of the immune system. Methods: The cytotoxic properties of cisplatin and sodium azide (NaN3) on HeLa cells were evaluated by MTT assay. Moreover, the apoptogenic activity of cisplatin and NaN3 was studied using flow cytometry (Annexin V/PI double staining) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Finally, apoptotic bodies were separated by centrifugation. Results: MTT assay data showed that the survival rate of cells treated with different concentration of NaN3 was significantly reduced, compared to negative control groups. Concerning cisplatin, only concentration of 20 μ M had not a significant impact on the cell viability; however, the other concentration of cisplatin significantly reduced cell viability, compared to negative control groups. The level of early apoptosis in uninfected HeLa cells was higher compared to infected HeLa cells treated with cisplatin and NaN3. Finally, apoptotic bodies were separated from T. GONDII infected HeLa cells treated with cisplatin. Conclusion: Apoptosis was induced in both uninfected and infected HeLa cells with T. GONDII and apoptotic bodies were isolated from infected cells. Therefore, further studies on apoptotic bodies are required in order to find a proper candidate for vaccine preparation against T. GONDII infections.

Background: Here, we established the mouse models of chronic toxoplasmosis by T. GONDII Tehran strain to provide a good understanding about defining the possible association between T. GONDII exposure and learning and memory impairments. Moreover, as secondary objective of the present study, we hypothesized whether administration of an acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor could reduce learning and memory impairments induced by T. GONDII infection.Methods: Twenty-four male BALB/c mice were used to establishment of latent toxoplasmosis. The animal model of TOXOPLASMA infection was established by the intraperitoneal inoculation of 20-25 tissue cysts from Tehran strain of T. GONDII. Donepezil (2 mg/kg) an AChE inhibitor to treat Alzheimer disease was injected intraperitoneally once a day for two weeks starting from postinfection day 90. Morris water maze (MWM) task was used to assay spatial learning and short term spatial memory in all groups. One-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post-hoc test was used to assess differences between experimental groups. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: TOXOPLASMA infection impaired spatial leaning and short term spatial memory of the infected BALB/c mice, whereas donepezil, an AChE inhibitor, improved impairments induced by TOXOPLASMA infection.Conclusion: T. GONDII infection through increasing AChE reduces the level of Acetylcholine (Ach) and consequently affects learning and memory activity in infected hosts, whereas, donepezil as an AChE inhibitor improves these impairments by restoring ACh levels at synapses of neurons in brain.

Background: Mouse inoculation and tissue culture employed in the earlier studies of toxoplasmosis, although specific and sensitive, are rather time-consuming and may require up to six weeks to reach a diagnosis.Objective: To use polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as a reliable alternative method in the detection of TOXOPLASMA GONDII organisms in tissue samples.Methods: This method relies on the detection of B1 gene which is unique for T. GONDII. After preparing the samples, DNA was separated using centrifugation, then, by application of primers and DNA polymerase, amplification was performed.Results: PCR detected the presence of T. GONDII in about 20% of formalin-fixed tissue samples from dead fetuses aborted within four months of gestation.Conclusion: PCR can be considered the method of choice, particularly when the parasites are already destroyed by preservatives or their viability is adversely affected by suboptimal storage and transportation conditions.

Background: This study was designed to evaluate whether or not T. GONDII and its derivatives can change the gene expression level of IL-10 in murine leukocytes in vivo. Methods: Fifty BALB/c mice were divided into 5 groups, four of which received the excretory/secretory product (ESP) from cell culture medium, the ESP from cell free medium, the TOXOPLASMA lysate product (TLP) and the active tachyzoites, respectively. The fifth group was considered as control and received PBS. The peritoneal leukocytes from the mice were collected. Their total RNA were extracted and converted to cDNA and the gene expression levels of IL-10 in the samples were evaluated by quantitative real time-PCR using the REST-2009 software. Results: The findings showed a decrease in the expression level of IL-10 in the TLP group (p=0. 004). Moreover, the IL-10 gene expression level was upregulated in the group of the ESP from cell culture medium (p=0. 04) and the active tachyzoite group (p=0. 04). The expression of IL-10 gene in the group of ESP from cell-free medium was not significant compared to the control one (p=0. 45). Conclusion: T. GONDII and its derivatives are able to increase (the active T. GONDII tachyzoite and the ESP from cell culture medium) and decrease (the TLP) the gene expression level of IL-10 in a murine model. The question remains to be examined in further study about which molecules are involved in this process.