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Forero MG, Hernández NC, Morera CM, Aguilar LA, Aquino R, Baquedano LE. A new automatic method for tracking rats in the Morris water maze. Heliyon 2023; 9:e18367. [PMID: 37519749 PMCID: PMC10372735 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Morris water maze (MWM) test is widely used to evaluate the learning and memory deficits in rodents. Image processing and pattern recognition can be used to analyse videos and recognize automatically the tracking in MWM. There are several commercial and free access software that allows analyzing the behavioral tasks although they also have limitations such as automation, cost, user intervention among other things. The aim of this paper was to develop a new image processing technique to automatically analyse the track of the rat in the MWM, which we called RatsTrack. The MWM test was performed with an animal model for Alzheimer, and the videos were recorded to measure the distance, time, and speed. The segmentation method based on the projection of the video frames was made for pool identification, eliminating the rat, while conserving the shape of the pool. Then, the Hough transformation was used to recognize the position and radius of the pool. Finally, the frame in which the rat is released into the pool was established automatically using mathematical morphology techniques and added as a plugin on free access ImageJ software. The new image processing technique, RatsTrack, successfully detected and located the pool and rat without user intervention, significantly decreasing operational time and providing results for distance, time, speed, and acceleration parameters of the MWM test. Alzheimer's rats compared with the control group presented significant data measured with the RatsTrack. RatsTrack is a plugin of ImageJ software and will be made freely available for public use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel G. Forero
- Professional School of Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Urban Planning, Universidad Señor de Sipán, Chiclayo, Peru
| | - Natalia C. Hernández
- Semillero de investigación en procesamiento de imágenes y reconocimiento de patrones Lún, Faculty of Engineering, Universidad de Ibagué, Ibagué, Colombia
| | - Cristian M. Morera
- Semillero de investigación en procesamiento de imágenes y reconocimiento de patrones Lún, Faculty of Engineering, Universidad de Ibagué, Ibagué, Colombia
| | - Luis A. Aguilar
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia Aplicadas, Faculty of Psicology, Universidad de Lima, Lima, Peru
| | - Ruth Aquino
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, CNRS UPR 4301, Rue Charles Sadron CS 80054. 45071 Orléans Cedex02 France
- Development and Research Laboratory, Faculty of Science and Philosophy, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
- Faculty of Science and Techniques, University of Orléans, 45067 Orléans, France
| | - Laura E. Baquedano
- Development and Research Laboratory, Faculty of Science and Philosophy, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
- Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru
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Baquedano LE, Bernal EG, Carrion DJ, Delgado AD, Gavidia CM, Kirwan DE, Gilman RH, Verastegui MR. Impaired spatial working memory and reduced hippocampal neuronal density in a rat model of neurocysticercosis. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1183322. [PMID: 37323586 PMCID: PMC10267319 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1183322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is the most common parasitic disease affecting the nervous system and is a leading cause of acquired epilepsy worldwide, as well as cognitive impairment, especially affecting memory. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of NCC on spatial working memory and its correlation with hippocampal neuronal density, in a rat model of NCC. This experimental study was conducted on female (n = 60) and male (n = 73) Holtzman rats. NCC was induced by intracranial inoculation of T. solium oncospheres in 14 day-old-rats. Spatial working memory was assessed using the T-maze test at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-inoculation, and sensorimotor evaluation was performed at 12 months post-inoculation. Hippocampal neuronal density was evaluated by immunostaining of NeuN-positive cells of the CA1 region. Of the rats inoculated with T. solium oncospheres, 87.2% (82/94) developed NCC. The study showed a significant decline in spatial working memory over a 1-year follow-up period in rats experimentally infected with NCC. Males showed an early decline that started at 3 months, while females demonstrated it at 9 months. Additionally, a decrease in neuronal density was observed in the hippocampus of NCC-infected rats, with a more significant reduction in rats with cysts in the hippocampus than in rats with cysts in other brain areas and control rats. This rat model of NCC provides valuable support for the relationship between neurocysticercosis and spatial working memory deficits. Further investigations are required to determine the mechanisms involved in cognitive impairment and establish the basis for future treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura E. Baquedano
- Parasitological Diagnostic Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences and Philosophy, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru
- The Cysticercosis Working Group in Peru, Lima, Peru
| | - Edson G. Bernal
- The Cysticercosis Working Group in Peru, Lima, Peru
- Infectious Diseases Research Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Philosophy, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Daniel J. Carrion
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy and Human Sciences, Universidad Antonio Ruiz de Montoya, Lima, Peru
| | - Ana D. Delgado
- Infectious Diseases Research Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Philosophy, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Cesar M. Gavidia
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru
- The Cysticercosis Working Group in Peru, Lima, Peru
| | - Daniela E. Kirwan
- Infection and Immunity Research Institute, St George’s University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robert H. Gilman
- The Cysticercosis Working Group in Peru, Lima, Peru
- Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MA, United States
| | - Manuela R. Verastegui
- The Cysticercosis Working Group in Peru, Lima, Peru
- Infectious Diseases Research Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Philosophy, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
- Asociación Benéfica PRISMA, Lima, Peru
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Mayor P, Baquedano LE, Sanchez E, Aramburu J, Gomez-Puerta LA, Mamani VJ, Gavidia CM. Polycystic echinococcosis in Pacas, Amazon region, Peru. Emerg Infect Dis 2015; 21:456-9. [PMID: 25695937 PMCID: PMC4344274 DOI: 10.3201/eid2103.141197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In the Peruvian Amazon, paca meat is consumed by humans. To determine human risk for polycystic echinococcosis, we examined wild pacas from 2 villages; 15 (11.7%) of 128 were infected with Echinococcus vogeli tapeworms. High E. vogeli prevalence among pacas indicates potential risk for humans living in E. vogeli–contaminated areas.
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