• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제38권2호
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• pp.85-90
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• 2000

To assess the relationship between the changes of cellular components and the production of Th 1 cytokine in the immune tissue, inbred C57BL/6 mice were orally infected with 40 cysts of 76K strain of Toxoplosma gondii. The sequential change of cell differentials and $IFN-{\gamma}$ production of splenocytes were analyzed by Diff-Quik stain and RT-PCR. There were no significant proportional changes of cellular components of splenocytes until day 4 postinfection (Pl) as compared to those of day 0, and the relative percentage of macrophages and neutrophils/eosinophils increased significantly (p<0.01) thereafter. The expression of $IFN-{\gamma}$ mRNA of $CD3^{-}$ cells was observed from day 1 Pl at a low level. However, $IFN-{\gamma}$ production of $CD3^{+}$ cells increased significantly from day 4 Pl (p<0.01) which progressively increased thereafter. These findings provide the relative percentages of granulocytes and macrophages were increased in conjunction with increase of total number of splenocytes after oral infection with T. gondii in the susceptible murine hosts, and lymphocytes were the major cellular components and the important source of $IFN-{\gamma}$.

• 한국동물위생학회지
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• 제15권2호
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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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• 제52권6호
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• pp.581-593
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• 2014

Toxoplasmosis is an opportunistic infection caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. T. gondii is widespread globally and causes severe diseases in individuals with impaired immune defences as well as congenitally infected infants. The high prevalence rate in some parts of the world such as South America and Africa, coupled with the current drug treatments that trigger hypersensitivity reactions, makes the development of immunotherapeutics intervention a highly important research priority. Immunotherapeutics strategies could either be a vaccine which would confer a pre-emptive immunity to infection, or passive immunization in cases of disease recrudescence or recurrent clinical diseases. As the severity of clinical manifestations is often greater in developing nations, the development of well-tolerated and safe immunotherapeutics becomes not only a scientific pursuit, but a humanitarian enterprise. In the last few years, much progress has been made in vaccine research with new antigens, novel adjuvants, and innovative vaccine delivery such as nanoparticles and antigen encapsulations. A literature search over the past 5 years showed that most experimental studies were focused on DNA vaccination at 52%, followed by protein vaccination which formed 36% of the studies, live attenuated vaccinations at 9%, and heterologous vaccination at 3%; while there were few on passive immunization. Recent progress in studies on vaccination, passive immunization, as well as insights gained from these immunotherapeutics is highlighted in this review.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제51권5호
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• pp.573-577
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• 2013

A loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay allows rapid diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection. In the present study, the LAMP assay was evaluated using blood from both naturally and experimentally infected pigs. The sensitivity of the LAMP assay was compared with that of Q-PCR. Both assays detected T. gondii in the blood of experimentally infected pigs, with 100% agreement. In infected blood samples, the parasite was detected as early as 2 days post-infection and reached a peak in 3-5 days. In 216 field serum samples, the detection rates of LAMP and Q-PCR assays were 6.9% and 7.8%, respectively. This result indicates that the sensitivity of the LAMP assay was slightly lower than that of the Q-PCR assay. However, the LAMP may be an attractive diagnostic method in conditions where sophisticated and expensive equipment is unavailable. This assay could be a powerful supplement to current diagnostic methods.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제37권3호
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• pp.157-162
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• 1999

Serum from mouse orally ingested with tissue cyst forming stain (Me49) of Toxoplasma gondii was assayed by Western blot and immunofluorescene assay (IFA) to establish early responses in antigenicity of the parasite in mouse model of foodborne toxoplasmosis. Sera were collected weekly to blot the RH antigen transferred onto nitrocellulose paper after being separated by 12% SDS-PAGE. With the second week serum, 34 kDa protein (p34) was detected uniquely, and all antigens of T.gondii were detected with the sera from 3 or 4 weeks. p34 was not a member of the major surface membrane proteins and confirmed to be localized in the rhoptry by IFA. It was secreted into parasitophorous vacuolar membrane (PVM) during the entry into host cells. 10.3% of sera detected p34, while all the ELISA positive sera detected the band. It has diagnostic usefulness of presumed T.gondii infection. We suggest the name of the p34 protein as ROP9.

• 한국임상수의학회지
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.70-73
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• 2016

Necrotizing meningoencephalitis (NME) is a unique idiopathic nonsuppurative inflammatory disease of central nervous system in small-sized breed dogs. A 9-year-old intact male Shih-Tzu dog with anorexia, vomiting, salivation and intermittent seizures was submitted to the Jeju National University for diagnosis. Grossly, there were no obvious lesions in the brain, except dilatation of most blood vessels in meninges. Histopathologically, brain revealed severe multifocal nonsuppurative inflammation in perivascular area of meninges and cerebral cortex. Some areas of cerebral parenchyma were replaced with lots of macrophages contained periodic acid-Schiff positive materials. Many new-formed blood vessels were observed around the necrotic regions using Gomori reticulum stain. Immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction were negative for toxoplasmosis and canine distemper virus. Based on the gross, histopathologic features and antigen detection methods, this case was diagnosed as NME. Here we reported the NME in relatively uncommon breed, Shih-Tzu dog, than other small breed dogs.

• 한국동물위생학회지
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• 제37권1호
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• pp.29-33
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• 2014

This study aimed at finding a fast, sensitive, and efficient protocol for molecular identification of intracellular protozoa Toxoplasma (T.) gondii. For molecular detection of T. gondii, we developed a polymerase chain reaction coupled with dot blot hybridization assay (PCR/DBH). For DBH analysis, the amplified DNA of T. gondii tachyzoite was labeled by incorporation of digoxigenin. The DBH assay alone was capable of detecting down to $1{\times}10^4$ pg of T. gondii genomic DNA. The PCR alone was capable of detecting down to $1{\times}10^3$ pg of T. gondii genomic DNA, whereas the PCR/DBH assay was capable of detecting down to $1{\times}10^2$ pg of T. gondii genomic DNA, indicating that sensitivity of the PCR/DBH method was approximately 10 to 100 times higher than PCR or DBH alone. Our PCR/DBH assay will be useful for confirming the presence of T. gondii on the samples and differentiating T. gondii infection from other intracellular protozoa infections.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제59권6호
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• pp.565-572
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• 2021

Toxoplasma gondii ME49 infections are typically diagnosed by serological tests. However, serological diagnosis of RH strain-induced toxoplasmosis remains unknown. In order to develop seradiagnosis of above 2 kinds of infections, we generated recombinant virus-like particles (VLPs) displaying the T. gondii rhoptry protein 4 (ROP4) and evaluated their potential in T. gondii ME49 or RH strain infection diagnostics. Mice were orally infected with either the tachyzoites of T. gondii (RH) or cysts of T. gondii (ME49) at various dosages, and sera were collected at regular intervals. ELISA-based serological tests were performed to assess IgG, IgM, and IgA antibody responses against ROP4 VLP antigen and tissue lysate antigen (TLA). Compared to TLA, IgG, IgM, and IgA levels to ROP4 VLP antigen were significantly higher in the sera of T. gondii RH-infected mice 1 and 2 week post-infection (PI). T. gondii-specific IgG antibody was detected at 1, 2, 4, and 8 week PI in the T. gondii ME49-infected mice with infection dose-dependent manner. These results indicated that the ROP4 VLP antigen was highly sensitive antigens detecting T. gondii RH and ME49 antibodies at an early stage.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제54권1호
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• pp.15-20
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• 2016

Toxoplasmosis is an important zoonotic disease that can cause abortion in humans and animals. The aim of this study was isolation and subsequent genotyping of Toxoplasma gondii isolates in ovine aborted fetuses. During 2012-2013, 39 ovine aborted fetuses were collected from sheep flocks in Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran. The brain samples were screened for detection of the parasite DNA by nested PCR. The positive brain samples were bioassayed in Webster Swiss mice. The serum samples of mice were examined for T. gondii antibodies by IFAT at 6 weeks post inoculation, and T. gondii cysts were searched in brain tissue samples of seropositive mice. The positive samples were genotyped by using a PCR-RLFP method. Subsequently, GRA6 sequences of isolates were analyzed using a phylogenetic method. The results revealed that T. gondii DNA was detected in 54% (20/37, 95% CI 38.4-69.0%) brain samples of ovine aborted fetuses. In bioassay of mice, only 2 samples were virulent and the mice were killed at 30 days post inoculation, while the others were non-virulent to mice. The size of cysts ranged $7-22{\mu}m$. Complete genotyping data for GRA6 locus were observed in 5 of the 20 samples. PCR-RLFP results and phylogenetic analysis revealed that all of the isolated samples were closely related to type I. For the first time, we could genotype and report T. gondii isolates from ovine aborted fetuses in Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran. The results indicate that the T. gondii isolates are genetically related to type I, although most of them were non-virulent for mice.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제52권5호
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• pp.487-491
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• 2014

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan that is distributed worldwide. Recently, several tests for avidity of Toxoplasma IgG antibodies have been introduced to help discriminate between recently acquired and distant infections. The study was conducted in Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital, India from February 2011 to September 2012. Serum specimens were subjected to Toxoplasma IgM ELISA and IgG avidity ELISA test. Out of 48 patients with abortions, 17 (35.4%) were positive for IgM ELISA, and 8 (16.6%) had low IgG avidity antibodies. Out of 48 patients with other obstetric problems, 23 (47.9%) were positive for IgM ELISA, and 17 (35.4%) had low IgG avidity antibodies. Combining both groups on avidity test, only 25 of 40 (62.5 %) IgM-positive women had low-avidity IgG antibodies suggesting a recent T. gondii infection in these women. More importantly, 15 (37.5%) of the IgM-positive women had high-avidity antibodies suggesting that the infection was acquired before gestation The relation of IgM seropositivity with the following risk factors was not found to be statistically significant; contact with cats (0.13), non-vegetarian food habits (0.05), and low socio-economic status (0.49). While, for IgG avidity ELISA, only contact with cats (0.01) was significantly associated with seropositivity. All other risk factors have P-values of >0.05 (not significant). IgG avidity test when used in combination with IgM test was a valuable assay for diagnosis of ongoing or recently acquired T. gondii infection in India.