Straina
| Inflammation score |
p
d
| Damage score |
p
d
|
|---|
[median (IQR)]b
| Â | [median (IQR)]c
| Â |
|---|
24Â h | 48Â h | Â | 24Â h | 48Â h | Â |
|---|
TIGR4 | 2 (2–6) | 12 (2–12) |  | 2 (2–3) | 6 (1–8) |  |
| Â | Â | Â | <0.001 | Â | Â | <0.05 |
FP23 | 0 (0–0.75) | 0 |  | 0 (0–3) | 0 (0–1.75) |  |
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aTwo groups of MF1 mice were infected via the i.c. route with 105 cfu/mouse of TIGR4 (n = 6) or FP23 (n = 16). Animals were sacrificed at 24 or 48 h, and brains were removed and treated for haematoxylin-eosin staining. Three (TIGR4) or 8 (FP23) mice per time-point were used.
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bInflammation in the brain was evaluated by counting the number of PMN in one power field (× 40) and calculating a score as follows: 0 (0 PMN), 1 (<10 PMN), 2 (10–50 PMN) 3 (>50 PMN). Four different brain regions were analysed: superficial meningeal regions over the convexities, frontal interhemispheric region, hippocampal fissure and third ventricle. For every animal, scores of each brain region were summed up into a total inflammation score (IS). Results are expressed as the median IS with the interquartile range (IQR) for each mouse group at 24 and 48 h.
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cNeuronal damage was evaluated by estimating the percent of damaged neurons in one power field (× 40) and calculating a score as follows: 0 (no damaged neurons), 1 (<10%), 2 (10-30%), 3 (>30%). Four different brain areas were analysed: neocortex, striatum, hippocampus/dentate gyrus and cerebellum. For each mouse, scores of each brain region were summed, and the resulting number represented the total damage score (DS). Results are expressed as the median DS with the interquartile range (IQR) for each mouse group at 24 and 48 h.
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dMann–Whitney U test. Differences in inflammation and damage between the groups infected with TIGR4 and FP23 were analysed by combining IS and DS scores from all mice of each group, regardless of the euthanasia time.
