Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Parasitology 1735-7020 16 4 2021 11 24 527 537 EN Nima Firouzeh 1. Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Afzalipour Medical School, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran 2. Vector-Borne Diseases Research Center, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran Naser Ziaali 1. Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Afzalipour Medical School, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran 2. Research Center for Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Vahid Sheibani Neuroscience Research Center, Neuropharmacology Institute, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Amir Hossein Doustimotlagh Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran Ali Afgar Research Center for Hydatid Disease in Iran, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Hossein Keshavarz Department of Medical Parasitology, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Saeideh Shojaee Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Teh-ran, Iran Reza Shafiei Vector-Borne Diseases Research Center, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran Khadijeh Esmaeilpour Neuroscience Research Center, Neuropharmacology Institute, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Zahra Babaei Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran 2021 04 18 2021 06 15 Background: Toxoplasma gondii is a neuroinvasive protozoa pathogen that could manipulate its intermediate host's behavior. However, the possible link between T. gondii infection and the development of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease (PD) has been proposed, we tested the hypothesis that in chronic toxoplasmosis neuroinflammation, and molecular mediators potentiate behavioral-cognitive impairments in BALB/c mice with PD. Methods: To establish chronic toxoplasmosis by Tehran strain, cysts of T. gondii were injected intraperitoneally into BALB/c mice in Kerman, Iran in 2019. To induce the PD model, mice (BALB/c) were treated with Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). The behavioral experiments such as anxiety and motor coordination were performed using the Open field and Rotarod tests. Additionally, we investigated the contribution of Toxoplasma-induced neuroinflammation, and behavioral-cognitive impairments in the PD mice model. Results: Chronic toxoplasmosis caused PD-like symptoms and induced various behavioral changes in infected BALB/c mice. In T. gondii infected+MPTP treated group, T. gondii infection could potentiate PD in infected mice receiving MPTP and caused remarkable dysfunction in motor coordination and change in anxiety and depression-like behaviors similar or more severe than PD group. Conclusion: Chronic T. gondii infection exacerbates pathological progression of PD in BALB/c mice brain by promoting neuroinflammation, and behavioral changes establishing. https://ijpa.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijpa/article/view/3323 https://ijpa.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijpa/article/download/3323/1166