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Abstract #0021

Longitudinal MRI Assessment of Brain Microstructural Changes Induced by Chronic Toxoplasma Gondii Infection in Mice

SUMMA25Alexandru Parlog1, 2, Marco Reisert1, Dominik von Elverfeldt1, Ildiko Dunay2, Laura-Adela Harsan1

1Department of Radiology, University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany; 2Institute for Medical Microbiology, Uniklinik Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany


In the present study we provide longitudinal insight into the pathological effects of the T. gondii infection on the mouse brain microstructure. We explore the use of DT-MRI and fiber tracking to investigate the impact of the T. gondii infection on the whole brain connectivity pattern, in the living mouse. MR images illustrate the presence of lesions in key brain structures leading to impaired structural connectivity between important areas of the somatosensory and limbic systems. These modifications might explain the sensorimotor deficits observed in the infected mice.