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

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

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.