Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:32:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2005-02-03Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:04:30Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 nascifjr_ia_dr_jab.pdf: 487838 bytes, checksum: 48d0ed37c6795976c360a3bc66e7fd1d (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Com o objetivo de avaliar a eficácia do ácido lático frente ao iodo na anti-sepsia após a ordenha na prevenção da mastite bovina, foram estudados 668 quartos mamários de vacas holandesas em dois rebanhos leiteiros, sendo um experimental e outro comercial. Para tanto adotou-se o delineamento experimental tipo split-herd baseado na redução da ocorrência natural de novos casos de infecções intramamárias (recomendado pelo protocolo do National Mastistis Council). Os resultados obtidos evidenciaram que o ácido lático apresentou uma eficácia de 57,4% na redução do número de novos casos de IIM causados por Corynebacterium spp., Staphylococcus spp. e Streptococcus spp. entre as vacas estudadas no rebanho experimental. No rebanho comercial a eficácia foi de 42,9% entre os casos de IIM determinados por Staphylococcus spp., porém não mostrou eficácia entre os casos de IIM determinados por Corynebacterium spp. e Streptococcus spp.. Tanto o ácido lático quanto o iodo não interferiram nas taxas de cura espontânea, persistência de IIM e na ocorrência de casos clínicos de mastite entre as vacas estudadas nos rebanhos experimental e comercial. A utilização do ácido lático na anti-sepsia dos tetos de vacas após a ordenha, mostrou-se eficaz na redução do número de novos casos de IIM, desde que acompanhada por outras medidas de controle. / With the objective of evaluate the efficacy of a lactic acid against an iodine postmilking teat dip in preventing bovine mastitis, 668 mammary quarters from Holsteins cows in two dairy herds, one experimental and other commercial, were studied. The National Mastitis Council recommended protocol for determining efficacy of a postmilking barrier teat dip based on reduction of naturally occurring new intramammary infections was used, in a split-herd experimental design. Results demonstrated that lactic acid showed an efficacy of 57.4% in reducing new intramammary infections caused by Corynebacterium spp., Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp., among the experimental herd cows. In the commercial herd, the efficacy was 42.9%, but only in reducing the number of new cases of intramammary infections caused by Staphylococcus spp., and not for new cases of intramammary infections caused by Corynebacterium spp., and Streptococcus spp. Both, lactic acid and iodine didn't interfere in spontaneous cure, intramammary infections persistence and clinical mastitis rates in experimental and commercial herds. The use of a lactic acid teat dip antisepsis after each milking was effective in reducing new cases of IMI, as part of a mastitis control program.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:32:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2006-07-29Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:24:19Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 lancellotti_m_dr_jabo.pdf: 3240433 bytes, checksum: 4b16953d2baee65e759a77712c2107dc (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Este trabalho objetivou trazer uma contribuição aos estudos relacionados à infecção cruzada, por Staphylococcus spp, dentro do ambiente dos consultórios odontológicos, destacando as principais fontes de contaminação e o provável risco a que os profissionais e pacientes estão expostos. Foram coletadas 160 amostras de água, 300 amostras de fômites e 360 amostras das mãos (direita e esquerda) e da cavidade nasal de dentistas, auxiliares e pacientes em 40 consultórios. A determinação da contagem de Staphylococcus spp na água, pelo método de filtração em Millipore® ,mostrou que 28% não atenderam ao padrão de potabilidade estabelecidos pela American Dental Association. Dentre os consultórios estudados, os de atendimento de convênio apresentaram a maior contaminação da água (62,5%) e os consultórios particulares (36%) e de convênios (35%) apresentaram maior contaminação em relação aos fômites pesquisados. As regiões de fômites mais contaminadas foram: assento (90%), maçaneta (80%), aparelho de Rx (76%) e caneta de alta rotação (70%). A área anatômica mais contaminada foi à cavidade nasal (66%) seguido da mão esquerda (57%) e mão direita (42%). A correlação entre os isolados de Staphylococcus spp nos fômites, água e áreas anatômicas significativa, podendo ser sugerido que houve infecção cruzada nos consultórios odontológicos estudados. As cepas de Staphylococcus spp, isoladas das águas de abastecimento do equipamento odontológico, foram sensíveis aos antibióticos ciprofloxacina (97%) e vancomicina (91%) e resistentes a oxacilina (78%), enquanto, as cepas, isoladas de fômites, das mãos e cavidade nasal foram sensíveis ao antibiótico ciprofloxacina (85%) e resistentes a oxacilina (88%). / This work aimed at making a contribution to studies related to cross infection by Staphylococcus spp in the environment of dental offices, focusing on main contamination sources and possible risk for professionals and patients. There have been collected 160 samples of water, 300 samples of fomites, and 360 samples from hands (right and left) and nasal cavities of dentists, assistants, and patients in 40 dental offices. The count determination of Staphylococcus spp in water, through the Millipore® filtering method, has shown that 28% did not meet the standard of potability established by the American Dental Association. Among studied dental offices, dental care plan offices have presented the highest rate of contamination of water (62,5%), and private offices (36%) and dental care plan offices (35%) have presented the highest rate of contamination as to researched fomites. The most contaminated fomites areas were: chair (90%), door knob (80%), Rx device (76%), and high-speed handpiece (70%). The most contaminated anatomical area was the nasal cavity (66%), followed by left (57%) and right hands (42%). The correlation among isolated Staphylococcus spp in fomites, water, and anatomical areas was significant, therefore, it might be suggested that there has been cross infection in the studied dental offices. Strains of Staphylococcus spp, which had been isolated from dental equipment water, were sensible to antibiotics ciprofloxacin (97%) and vancomycin (91%), and they were resistant to oxacillin (78%); on the other hand, strains isolated from fomites in hands and nasal cavities were sensible to antibiotics ciprofloxacin (85%) and oxacillin (88%).

Resumo: Este estudo avaliou o efeito de métodos de esterilização físicos e químico sobre a eficiência de corte de fresas carbide. Sessenta fresas da marca S.S. White foram utilizadas para o desgaste de vidro (30 mm X 30 mm X 10 mm) e divididas em cinco grupos experimentais em função do tratamento realizado: E1 - esterilização em autoclave, E2 - esterilização em estufa, E3 - esterilização em forno de microondas, E4 - esterilização em substância química e E0 - ausência de esterilização (controle). Com o auxílio de um aparelho padronizador de desgaste, as fresas foram utilizadas para o desgaste do vidro em um total de 30 minutos divididos em doze períodos de 2,5 minutos. Após cada 2,5 minutos de uso, as fresas foram limpas com escova de nylon sob água corrente e secas com jatos de ar e, em seguida, submetidas as seus respectivos tratamentos. A eficiência de corte das fresas foi determinada pela perda de massa do vidro, que teve sua massa aferida antes e após cada período de desgaste. A soma ( ? ) da quantidade de desgaste realizado por cada fresa após os 12 ciclos de uso foi calculada e utilizada para se determinar a eficiência de corte após 30 minutos de uso. Os valores da ? foram submetidos à análise estatística pelos testes de Kruskal-Wallis e de Dunn. Diferenças estatisticamente significantes entre os grupos experimentais foram verificadas (p<0,05). De acordo com os resultados, entre os métodos de esterilização avaliados, o uso o calor seco foi responsável pelo melhor desempenho das fresas, ao contrário da utilização de glutaraldeído, que foi considerado o pior método de esterilização. / Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of physical and chemical sterilization methods on the cutting effectiveness of carbide burs. Sixty S.S. White burs were used to cut glass plates (30 mm X 30 mm X 10 mm) and subjected to the following procedures: S1 - sterilization by autoclave; S2 - sterilization by dry heat; S3 - sterilization by microwave irradiation; S4 - sterilization by chemical substance and S0 - no sterilization (control group). The burs were used to cut glass plates in a cutting machine for twelve 2.5-minute periods. After each period, the burs were cleaned with a nylon brush under running water, dried with air spray (40 seconds), and then subjected to their procedures respectively. The cutting effectiveness was calculated by the weight loss of the glass which was weighed before and after each 2.5-minute period. The sum ( ? ) of the cutting amount performed by each bur after twelve cycles of use were calculated and used to determine the cutting effectiveness after 30 minutes of use. The ? values were statistically analyzed by Kruskal-Wallisþs and Dunnþs tests. Statistical differences among the experimental groups were observed (p <.05). According to the results, among the sterilization methods, the use of dry heat was responsible for the best carbide burs performance and, the use of glutaraldehyde was responsible for the worst burs performance. / Orientador: Gelson Luis Adabo / Coorientador: Lígia Antunes Pereira Pinelli / Banca: Regina Helena Barbosa Tavares da Silva / Banca: Daniela Atili Brandini / Mestre

abstract: African Swine Fever (ASF), endemic in many African countries, is now spreading to other continents. Though ASF is capable of incurring serious economic losses in affected countries, no vaccine exists to provide immunity to animals. Disease control relies largely on rapid diagnosis and the implementation of movement restrictions and strict eradication programs. Developing a scalable, accurate and low cost diagnostic for ASF will be of great help for the current situation. CIM's 10K random peptide microarray is a new high-throughput platform that allows systematic investigations of immune responses associated with disease and shows promise as a diagnostic tool. In this study, this new technology was applied to characterize the immune responses of ASF virus (ASFV) infections and immunizations. Six sets of sera from ASFV antigen immunized pigs, 6 sera from infected pigs and 20 sera samples from unexposed pigs were tested and analyzed statistically. Results show that both ASFV antigen immunized pigs and ASFV viral infected pigs can be distinguished from unexposed pigs. Since it appears that immune responses to other viral infections are also distinguishable on this platform, it holds the potential of being useful in developing a new ASF diagnostic. The ability of this platform to identify specific ASFV antibody epitopes was also explored. A subtle motif was found to be shared among a set of peptides displaying the highest reactivity for an antigen specific antibody. However, this motif does not seem to match with any antibody epitopes predicted by a linear antibody epitope prediction. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Biological Design 2011

Data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control demonstrates that African American women, in particular young people between the ages of 14-25, have an increased incidence of infection with the sexually transmitted pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Estradiol is a key regulatory hormone in female reproductive function. It has been studied extensively in the cardiovascular field, and has been linked to breast and endometrial cancers in women. However, its impact on infectious diseases is largely unknown. Given what is known about the effect of estradiol on immunologic and inflammatory disorders in women, I hypothesize that estradiol alters the infectivity of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the female reproductive tract by altering the host inflammatory immune response. This may explain a risk factor for increased rates of infection in some populations. I sought to develop a relevant in vitro model. After screening a number of candidate cell lines, I selected the human endometrial adenocarcinoma cell line, Ishikawa. These cells express specific estrogen receptors and respond to exogenous estrogen stimulation. Estrogen treatment of Ishikawa cells did not have an impact on the invasion of N. gonorrhoeae, nor did it impact bacterial growth. However, gonococcal induced chemokine secretion was reduced by estrogen, as measured by interleukin-8 secretion. I conclude that estrogen blunts the inflammatory response to Neisseria gonorrhoeae without altering bacterial infectivity.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is one of the most economically significant viral diseases facing the global swine industry. Viraemia profiles of PRRS virus challenged pigs reflect the severity and progression of infection within the host and provide crucial information for subsequent control measures. In this thesis we analyse the largest longitudinal PRRS viraemia dataset from an in-vivo experiment, and corresponding immune measures in the form of cytokine data and neutralising antibodies. In the PRRS Host Genetic Consortium (PHGC) trials, pigs were challenged with one of two PRRSV isolates (NVSL and KS06, respectively). In Chapter 2 we derive a statistical description of the temporal changes in viraemia and determine the influence of diverse factors (e.g. PRRSV strain, pig genetic background, resistance genotype, etc.) on viraemia profiles. The well-established methodology of linear mixed modelling with a repeated measures model and fitting a linearized Wood’s function, a gamma-type function, is applied to the viraemia dataset. The virus isolate had a significant impact on the viraemia profiles which was captured by statistically significant differences in model parameters via both statistical methods. The more virulent NVSL isolate had higher early viraemia predictions and a faster rate of decline than KS06. In line with previous studies the WUR “resistance” genotype, associated with lower AUC viraemia found in previous studies, also resulted in lower viraemia predictions in the statistical models. The typical time trends of the viraemia profiles were a rise to a peak followed by a period of decline with dynamics and magnitude influenced by the virus isolate. Both uni and bimodal viraemia profiles were observed. The Wood’s model appeared a suitable candidate model for the data associated with uni-modal profiles and captured the time trends concisely in only three model parameters which also had a biological relevance. Overall the best fitting Wood’s model (y=atbe-ct) was when there was a random effect in Wood’s parameters b and c. Bimodal profiles significantly reduced the model fit, particularly in the later phase of infection resulting in large model residuals. However bimodal profiles did not impact upon the significance of the differences between the LSM repeated measures estimates nor the LSM linearized Wood’s model parameter estimates. The longitudinal viraemia measures from the PRRSV challenge experiment revealed substantial differences in the viraemia profiles between hosts infected with the same PRRSV challenge dose, pointing to considerable variation in the host response to PRRSV infections. In Chapter 3 we provide a suitable mathematical description of all viraemia profiles with biologically meaningful parameters for quantitative analysis of profile characteristics. The Wood’s function and a biphasic extended Wood’s function were fit to the individual profiles using Bayesian inference with a likelihood framework in Chapter 3. Using maximum likelihood inference and numerous fit criteria, we established that the broad spectrum of viraemia trends could be adequately represented by either uni-or biphasic Wood’s functions. Three viraemic categories emerged: cleared (uni-modal and below detection within 42 days post infection(dpi)), persistent (transient experimental persistence over 42 dpi) and rebound (biphasic within 42 dpi). The convenient biological interpretation of the model parameters estimates, allowed us not only to quantify inter-host variation, but also to establish common viraemia curve characteristics and their predictability. The convenient biological interpretation of the model parameters estimates, allowed us not only to quantify inter-host variation, but also to establish common viraemia curve characteristics and their predictability, which were utilized in subsequent quantitative genetic analyses to identify genomic regions associated with these new resistance traits. The Bayesian approach for curve fitting in Chapter 3 led to better model fits than the classical linear mixed models approach of Chapter 2. Furthermore in Chapter 4 we explored the association between the observed PRRS viraemia profile characteristics and the corresponding measures of the immune response in the form of: neutralising antibody (nAb) cross protection data and longitudinal cytokine profiles. Statistical analysis of the profile characteristics revealed that persistent profiles were distinguishable already within the first 21 dpi, whereas it is not possible to predict the onset of viraemia rebound. Analysis of the neutralizing antibody (nAb) data indicated that there was a ubiquitous strong response to the homologous PRRSV challenge, but high variability in the range of cross-protection of the nAbs. Persistent pigs were found to have a significantly higher nAb cross-protectivity than pigs that either cleared viraemia or experienced rebound within 42 dpi. We determined the typical features and time trends of each cytokine profile, examined the associations between cytokines, and characterised the cytokine response. A stronger association was found in the direction of cytokines driving the ensuing viraemia characteristics as opposed to vice versa. It was found that viraemia class differences were best captured in the anti-viral cytokine IFNA and also the chemokine CCL2, furthermore these key cytokines were the most strongly associated with viraemia measures. The breadth of the cytokine responsiveness was associated with viral profile class and genetic background but not the WUR genotype. The statistical categorization of pigs from each PHGC trial through model fitting provides a critical basis for the generation of new desirable host phenotypes, and of potential use in the genetic selection of pigs with favourable infection traits. Our study provides novel insights into the nature and degree of variation of hosts’ responses to infection as well as new informative traits for subsequent genetic and modelling studies.

Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct), the most common sexually transmitted bacterium, has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes including controversial data on miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction and low birth weight, however the causative mechanisms are unknown. A successful pregnancy requires normal endometrial stromal cell (ESC) decidualisation and trophoblast invasion, processes that involve chemokine action and lead to successful implantation. My objectives were to determine whether Ct infection impacts upon ESC decidualisation and chemokine secretion on human primary ESC invitro, to investigate the role of Ct infection in pregnancy in-vivo using a murine model of pregnancy and to investigate the role of Ct in miscarriage in a statistically powered case control study. A novel finding is that Ct can infect and proliferate in ESC, resulting in suboptimal decidualisation as measured by decidualisation marker prolactin’s reduced mRNA and protein levels in infected ESC. Furthermore, the altered secreted chemokine profile of decidualised ESC suggests an attenuated innate immune response from infected ESC. Focusing on chemokines C-X-C motif chemokine 12 (CXCL12) and CXCL16, important for trophoblast invasion, decreased mRNA and protein concentrations were detected in infected decidualised cells. From the in-vivo mouse model of past Ct infection in pregnancy, it was demonstrated that Ct infection did neither affect the fertility of the mice, pregnancy or resorption numbers in C3H mice nor alter embryonic and placental weight on e12 embryos. However, Ct infection caused reduction of embryo and placenta weight on e14 embryos. Finally, preliminary data from the case control study indicate that past Ct infection is not associated with miscarriage. Our in house PGP3 ELISA that detects past Ct infection was more sensitive than a commercially available MOMP ELISA. My data suggests that Ct infection affects pregnancy during the implantation stage by impairing decidualisation and altering chemokine secretion predisposing for adverse pregnancy outcomes that include growth restriction during later gestation.

Hip replacement surgery has experienced a dramatic evolution in recent years supported by the latest developments in many areas of technology and surgical procedures. Unfortunately complications that follow hip replacement surgery remains the most challenging dilemma faced both by the patients and medical experts. The thesis presents a novel approach to segment the prosthesis of a THR surgical process by using an Active Contour Model (ACM) that is initiated via an automatically detected seed point within the enarthrosis region of the prosthesis. The circular area is detected via the use of a Fast, Randomized Circle Detection Algorithm. Experimental results are provided to compare the performance of the proposed ACM based approach to popular thresholding based approaches. Further an approach to automatically detect the Obturator Foramen using an ACM approach is also presented. Based on analysis of how medical experts carry out the detection of loosening and subsidence of a prosthesis and the presence of infections around the prosthesis area, this thesis presents novel computational analysis concepts to identify the key feature points of the prosthesis that are required to detect all of the above three types of complications. Initially key points along the prosthesis boundary are determined by measuring the curvature on the surface of the prosthesis. By traversing the edge pixels, starting from one end of the boundary of a detected prosthesis, the curvature values are determined and effectively used to determine key points of the prosthesis surface and their relative positioning. After the key-points are detected, pixel value gradients across the boundary of the prosthesis are determined along the boundary of the prosthesis to determine the presence of subsidence, loosening and infections. Experimental results and analysis are presented to show that the presence of subsidence is determined by the identification of dark pixels around the convex bend closest to the stem area of the prosthesis and away from it. The presence of loosening is determined by the additional presence of dark regions just outside the two straight line edges of the stem area of the prosthesis. The presence of infections is represented by the determination of dark areas around the tip of the stem of the prosthesis. All three complications are thus determined by a single process where the detailed analysis defer. The experimental results presented show the effectiveness of all proposed approaches which are also compared and validated against the ground truth recorded manually with expert user input.

Orientador: Angelo Berchieri Junior / Coorientador: Oliveiro Caetano de Freitas Neto / Banca: Terezinha Knöbl / Banca: Marita Vedovelli Cardozo / Resumo: RESUMO - Salmonella Gallinarum (SG) é um patógeno hospedeiro-específico que causa o tifo aviário, doença sistêmica severa que é considerada uma das principais preocupações da indústria avícola mundial. Quando infecta a ave, SG utiliza mecanismos de evasão para sobreviver e replicar no interior de macrófagos. Nesse contexto, os genes phoPQ codificam o sistema regulatório de dois componentes (PhoPQ) que regula genes de virulência responsáveis pela adaptação de Salmonella spp. a fatores antimicrobianos como baixo pH, peptídeos antimicrobianos e baixas concentrações de cátions bivalentes. No presente estudo, objetivou-se investigar a função desses genes para SG. Assim, uma estirpe de SG com genes phoPQ defectivos (SG ∆phoPQ) foi construída e sua patogenicidade avaliada em aves poedeiras de 20 dias de vida susceptíveis ao tifo aviário. SG ∆phoPQ não causou sinais clínicos nem mortalidade em aves desafiadas oralmente, sendo não-patogênica. Ademais, essa estirpe não foi recuperada de fígados e baços. Por outro lado, aves desafiadas subcutaneamente com a estirpe mutante tiveram alterações patológicas discretas a moderadas e baixas contagens bacterianas em tecidos de fígado e baço. A partir dos dados, observa-se que SG ∆phoPQ é atenuado para aves o que sugere que ambos os genes são importantes durante a infecção sistêmica em aves por SG. / Abstract: ABSTRACT - Salmonella Gallinarum (SG) is a host-restrict pathogen that causes fowl typhoid, a severe systemic disease that is one of the major concerns to the poultry industry worldwide. When infecting the bird, SG makes use of evasion mechanisms to survive and to replicate within macrophages. In this context, phoPQ genes encode a two-component regulatory system (PhoPQ) that regulates virulence genes responsible for adaptation of Salmonella spp. to antimicrobial factors such as low pH, antimicrobial peptides and deprivation of bivalent cations. Herein, we aimed to investigate the role of the mentioned genes to SG. Thus, a phoPQ-depleted SG strain (SG ∆phoPQ) was constructed and its virulence assessed in twenty-day-old laying hens susceptible to fowl typhoid. SG ∆phoPQ did cause neither clinical signs nor mortality in birds orally challenged, being non-pathogenic. Furthermore, this strain was not recovered from livers or spleens. On the other hand, chickens challenged subcutaneously with the mutant strain had discreet to moderate pathological changes and also low bacterial counts in liver and spleen tissues. These findings show that SG ∆phoPQ is attenuated to susceptible chickens and suggest that both genes are important during chicken systemic infection by SG. / Mestre

Infections are a common co-morbidity in Alzheimer's disease (AD), and evidence suggests that infections can exacerbate neuroinflammation and increase cognitive decline in AD patients. In AD, immune changes are observed both in the central nervous system (CNS) and in the rest of the body. However, only a few studies have investigated immune responses to infection in AD. Here, two extensively studied infections, Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) and Trichuris muris (T. muris) were used to investigate infection in AD. T. gondii is a protozoan parasite which is common globally, including in the developed world where AD cases are increasing dramatically. Infection with T. gondii starts in the gut, before becoming systemic and then infecting the CNS, where the parasite forms a chronic cyst infection. In contrast, T. muris is a nematode parasite, which remains localised to the gut. Notably, T. gondii is known to alter neuroinflammation and behaviour. T. gondii forms cysts preferentially in the areas of the brain commonly affected by AD, such as the hippocampus, which therefore makes it an interesting model to study co-morbidity. AD is often associated with advanced age. As we age, our immune system declines, and an important unanswered question is whether age impacts on the immune response to infection. This is of particular significance when considering chronic infections such as T. gondii, which require immune surveillance to prevent parasite recrudescence. Therefore, the aim of this thesis was to investigate infection in AD by determining: whether the immune response to an infection is altered in AD; whether the immune response to an infection in AD differs with age; what the effects of infection are on neuroinflammation, pathology and behaviour in AD; what are the effects of chronic infection with T. gondii. Immune responses to infection were altered in both the 3xTg-AD and the APP PS1 mouse models of AD, including increased inflammation and weight loss in AD mice following infection. Although older (eleven to twelve-month-old) 3xTg-AD mice showed some alterations in cytokine responses following infection, overall there were no major difference compared to younger (five to six-month-old) animals. Additionally, infection was found to alter neuroinflammation in both 3xTg-AD and APP PS1 mice, though differently. In 3xTg-AD mice, microglia activation increased following infection with T. gondii and T. muris, showing that infection did not need to be in the brain to alter neuroinflammation. In APP PS1 mice, a decrease in microglia activation occurred after infection with T. gondii, which was accompanied by an increase in IL-1alpha production and increased amyloid beta levels in APP PS1 mice following infection. However, no changes were found in behaviour following infection with T. gondii or T. muris in AD mouse models. Finally, chronic T. gondii infection was investigated in the TgF344-AD rat, which was established as a suitable AD model with both amyloid and tau pathology in which to study chronic infection. This work adds to a growing body of literature to suggest that infections are detrimental to AD patients, and that future measures to decrease morbidity could focus on further study of infections in AD, and the development of strategies to better prevent infections in AD patients.