O-1: Impaired Reproductive Parameters ofMale Rats Infected with Toxoplasma Gondii

Background: Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite that infects up to a third of the world’s population. Toxoplasmosis is one of the classical conditions known to have a profound adverse effect on human reproductive functions, but a few investigations on male reproductive parameters were done. The aim of this investigation is Study on the effects of Toxoplasma gondii on reproductive parameters in male rats. Materials and Methods: A total of 56 male rats divided into infected group (IG) and control group (CG). The RH strain of T. gondii tachyzoites were injected interaperitoneally in an infected group of 35 rats, while 21 rats were used as controls. On days 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 post-injection (PI), 5 rats from infected group and 3 rats from control group were anesthetized. The percentage of body weight to testis weight ratio (BTR) as well as epididymal sperm parameters (motility, viability, number and morphology) was investigated.Results: BTR was not significantly change in IG and CG groups on days of 10 to 70 PI (P≥0.05). Sperm motility was significantly decreased on days 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 PI (p