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The relationship between numbers of larvae recovered from the brain of Toxocara canis-infected mice and social behaviour and anxiety in the host

The effect of the nematode Toxocara canis on social behaviour and anxiety levels of adult male outbred (LACA) mice was examined following infection with a single dose of 2000 ova. The actual number of larvae recovered from the brain of each individual mouse was determined after behavioural testing. The effect of the parasite on mouse behaviour was analysed by both the initial dose administered (i.e. infected versus control) and the degree of infection in the brain. There was substantial variation in the number of larvae recovered from the brains of the individual mice and the magnitude of behavioural change was associated with the level of infection. Examination of social behaviour for both analyses revealed that the infection reduced levels of aggressive behaviour and increased levels of flight and defensive behaviours. High infection in the brain induced the greatest degree of behavioural change which decreased in mice with lower infections. In contrast the analysis of anxiety levels in mice by initial dose administered revealed no difference between infected and control mice. Mice with low infection in the brain, however, displayed a greater level of risk behaviour by spending more time in the vicinity of a predator odour and in the light area of a light/dark paradigm than control or high infection mice. The results suggest that the behaviour of mice infected with T. canis is influenced by the number of larvae accumulated in the brain. This may have important consequences for the conclusions drawn on the effect of this parasite on murine behaviour.