• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.269-275
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• 1998

Anti-Neospora caninum antibody was detected in anti-Toxoplasma gondii positive and negative human sera by ELISA, western blot and immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Twelve cases out of 172 (6.7％) Toxoplasma-positive sera cross-reacted with both T. gondii and N. caninum antigens, and one out of 110 Toxoplasma-negative sera reacted with N. caninum antigen by ELISA. By western blot, all 12 sera reacted with T. gondii antigens with various banding patterns but specifically at 30 kDa (SAG 1), and 22 kDa （SAG2) bands. With N. caninum antigen, the number of reactive bands was reduced, however a 43 kDa band reacted in three cases in Toxoplasma-positive sera in addition to one in Toxoplasma-negative control sera. All sera of the Toxoplasma-positive group labeled surface membrane of T. gondii, but reacted differently with N. caninum. Fluorescence was detected in surface membrane, subcellular organelles, or both in N. caninum. And one case in the Toxoplasma-negative group also reacted with N. caninum strongly in subcellular organelles. This suggested that the antibody against N. caninum may be present in human sera although the positive rate was very low in this study. The possibility of human infection with N. caninum remains to be evaluated further.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.174-183
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• 1992

This study was conducted to determine the serum antibodies against toxoplasma in swine from breeding-pig farm, pig farm and abattoir by latex agglutination(LA) test. LA test was carried out with commercial Toxo-MT kit (Eiken chemical co.). The results obtained were summerized as follows : 1. The cut-off titer of positive and negative reactions by Toxo-MT antigen used in this experiment was determined as the serum dilution of 1 ; 32. 2. positive rates of toxoplasma antibodies in 823 swine sera were 17.0%(140 cases) by LA test. 3. The toxoplasma antibody detection rates against 194 swine sera in breeding-pig farm, 273 swine sera in pig farm and 356 swine in abattoir were 46.9%(91 cases), 8.4%(23 cases) and 7.3% (26 cases) , respectively. 4. In LA test serum antibody titers in 823 test sera were shown as 51 cases (36.4%) in 1 : 32, 40(28.6%) in 1；64, 17(12.1%) in 1:128, 14(10.0%) in 1：256, 10(7.1%) in 1:512, 5(3.6%) in 1：1,024, and 3(2.1%) in 1 : 2,048. 5. Positive rates of toxoplasma antibodies in swine sera from each breeding-pig farm were 20.0∼61.9%.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.61-63
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• 2009

Although Toxoplasma gondii infection generally shows subclinical courses in adults, it may have severe pathologic effects on the fetus. For a survey of toxoplasmosis in Shahr-e-Rey area, south of Tehran, Iran, we conducted a serological study on 1,187 general populations using indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test. In this cross sectional study, cases were selected randomly by a local primary health care (PHC) system. Blood samples were collected in microcapillary tubes and sera were examined by IFA after centrifugation. It has been shown that 68.3% of cases in all age groups had IFA titer of 1:10 and higher, which we consider as positive cases, and the rate for 1:400 or over was 30.2%. There was meaningful correlation between anti-Toxoplasma antibody titers and age, sex, and occupation of subjected people (P < 0.05%). The incidence was higher in females and highest in the children age group (10-14 years old). The present study demonstrates high prevalence of Toxoplasma infection among the people in south of Tehran, Iran.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.263-268
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• 1993

This study was conducted to detect the serum antibody of toxoplasma in swine from breeding-pig, rearing-pig farm and slaughtered pig in abattior by latex agglutination(LA) test. The perfomance of LA test was carried out with commercial Toxo-MT kit(Eiken Chemical Co.)by Tsubota and Ozawa's method. The cut-off titer of positive and negative reactions by Toxo-MT antigen used in this experiment was determined as the serum titer of 1 : 32. Positive rate of toxoplasma antibody from the total of 823 serum samples by LA test was 17.0%(140 cases). And positive rates of toxoplasma antibody against serum samples of 194 from breeding-pig farm, 273 from rearing-pig farm and 356 from abattior were 91 cases(46. 9%), 23 cases(8.4%) and 26 cases(7.3%), respectively. The distributions of serum antibody titers in 823 test sera by LA test were shown 51 cases(36.3%) in 1:32, 40(28.6%) in 1:64, 17(12.1%) in 1:128, 14(10.0%) in 1:256, 3(2.1%) in 1:512, 5(3.6%) in 1:1024 and 3(2.1%) in 1:2048. The ranges of positive rate from the sera in each group of breeding-pig farms were 20~61.9%.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.444-446
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• 2001

Objectives : Toxoplasmosis is a member of the zoonosis group and may cause congenital infection . Antibody positive rates of toxoplasmosis were examined in high school students in Cheju, Korea to facilitate the study aim of examining the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in school teachers of child-bearing age in Cheju Island. Methods : The study population comprised teachers of child-bearing age in primary, middle and high schools, aged 35 years and younger, who wished to be tested for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies (IgG) by the indirect latex agglutination test (ILA) and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Results : The overall antibody positive rate was 3.8% in the study subjects (n=314), a rate which showed no significant difference due to birth place, history of bringing up pets, or history of contacting a cat. Conclusion : We confirmed that the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in a population of child-bearing teachers in Cheju Island was the same as that previously reported in other parts of Korea.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.285-287
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• 1993

Toxoplasma gondii frozen by the method of very slow cooling ($-30^{\circ}C/3hrs.{\rightarrow}\;-60^{\circ}C/lhr.{\rightarrow}\;-196^{\circ}C$ of liquid nitrogen)were inoculated mice after storage in the liquid nitrogen for 5 years. The results obtained were as follows; 1. Toxoplasma gondii was detected in mice 4~5th day after intraperitoneal inoculation of organisms stored in the liquid nitrogen once a year for 5 years. 2. Toxoplasma gondii could be preserved longer than 5 years in liquid nitorgen being evidenced by the in vivo test.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.93-96
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• 2016

Toxoplasmosis, a neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, occurs throughout the world. Human T. gondii infection is asymptomatic in 80% of the population; however, the infection is life-threatening and causes substantial neurologic damage in immunocompromised patients such as HIV-infected persons. The major purpose of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in subjects infected with HIV/AIDS in eastern China. Our findings showed 9.7% prevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG antibody in HIV/AIDS patients, which was higher than in intravenous drug users (2.2%) and healthy controls (4.7%), while no significant difference was observed in the seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgM antibody among all participants (P>0.05). Among all HIV/AIDS patients, 15 men (7.7%) and 10 women (15.9%) were positive for anti-T. gondii IgG antibody; however, no significant difference was detected in the seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibody between males and females. The frequency of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibody was 8.0%, 13.2%, 5.5%, and 0% in patients with normal immune function ($CD4^+$ T-lymphocyte count ${\geq}500cells/ml$), immunocompromised patients (cell count ${\geq}200$ and <500 cells/ml), severely immunocompromised patients (cell count ${\geq}50$ and <200 cells/ml), and advanced AIDS patients, respectively (cell count <50 cells/ml), while only 3 immunocompromised patients were positive for anti-T. gondii IgM antibody. The results indicate a high seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in HIV/AIDS patients in eastern China, and a preventive therapy for toxoplasmosis may be given to HIV/AIDS patients based on $CD4^+$ T lymphocyte count.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.99-103
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• 2017

Toxoplasma gondii is an important opportunistic agent especially in immunocompromised hosts and can cause significant morbidity and mortality. Hence, detection and monitoring of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies are of a great interest in HIV-infected patients. A study on the prevalence of toxoplasmosis and associated risk factors was carried out among HIV-infected patients in Jahrom, southern Iran. The prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies was 21.1% in HIV-infected patients by ELISA. PCR was performed on all of the samples, and 1 of the blood samples was positively detected. Among the HIV patients, anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies were significantly higher in age group of 30-39 years old (P=0.05). The seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in patients with $CD4^+$ < $100cells/{\mu}l$ was 33.3% that was significantly higher than the other groups (P=0.042) with or without IgG antibodies. The $CD4^+$ count mean of seropositive patients was lower than that of seronegative patients. The seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in patients with highly active antiretroviral therapy was significantly less than patients without therapy (P=0.02). In conclusion, this study showed low seroprevalence of latent toxoplasmosis among HIV-infected patients in the region and confirmed the need for intensifying prevention efforts among this high-risk population and also the risk of toxoplasmosis reactivation which could be important among this population.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.209-219
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• 2006

Toxoplasma gondii has been shown to result in life-threatening encephalitis in immunocompromised patients after reactivation of dormant parasites. In order to obtain information on immune responses related to this phenomenon, BALB/c mice were infected with 25 cysts of the 76K strain of T. gondii, then, treated orally with dexamethasone (Toxo/Dexa-treated group) in order to reactivate the chronic toxoplasmosis. None of the T. gondii-infected mice died during the experimental periods, whereas the Toxo/Dexa-treated mice evidenced a significant attenuation of survival periods. Toxoplasma-specific IgG2a, IgA and IgM titers in sera were significantly depressed in the Toxo/Dexa-treated mice; however, the IgG1 sera titers were similar to those seen in the Toxoplasma-infected mice. The percentages of CD4+ and $CD8\alpha+$ T cells in the Toxo/Dexa-treated mice were significantly reduced 2 weeks after dexamethasone treatment. $IFN-\gamma$ and IL-10 production levels in the Toxo/Dexa-treated mice were depressed significantly, whereas IL-4 production was increased temporarily. The expression levels of the Toxoplasma-specific P30 and B1 genes were found to have been increased in the Toxo/Dexa-treated mice in comparison with the Toxoplasma-infected mice. Collectively, the findings of this study demonstrate that reactivation of murine toxoplasmosis as the result of dexamethasone treatment induced a depression in Th1 immune responses, whereas Th2 immune responses were not significantly influenced.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.233-238
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• 2012

The precise diagnosis of the acute toxoplasmosis in pregnant women and immunocompromsied patients has critical importance. Most of the commercially available assays use the whole Toxoplasma soluble extract as the antigen. However, the assays currently available for the detection of specific anti-Toxoplasma antibodies may vary in their abilities to detect serum immunoglobulins, due to the lack of a purified standardized antigen. The aim of this study was production and evaluation of the usefulness of the recombinant Toxoplasma gondii GRA7 antigen for the serodiagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii IgM and IgG by ELISA. A total of 70 T. gondii IgM positive sera, 74 T. gondii IgG positive sera, and 60 sera from subjects who were not infected with T. gondii were examined. These sera were shown different absorbance values in ELISA test. To control the specificity of the rGRA7 other parasitic diseases, for example, echinococcosis, malaria, leishmaniasis, fascioliasis, and strongyloidiasis were tested of which none showed positive results. Sensitivity and specificity of the generated recombinant IgG ELISA in comparison with commercial ELISA (com ELISA) were 89% and 90%, and the sensitivity and specificity of the generated recombinant IgM ELISA were 96% and 90%, respectively. The results obtained here show that this antigen is useful for diagnostic purposes.