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PubMed1998

[Detection of Toxoplasma gondii DNA in the autopsy cases of abnormal birth and teratosis by polymerase chain reaction].

Toxoplasma gondii DNA in the autopsy tissues of 72 cases of the premature, stillbirth and congenital malformation was detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The specific amplified products were found in 9 cases, i.e. one case of premature, 3 cases of stillbirth, one case of hydrocephalus and 4 cases of other teratosis. The positive rate was 12.5%. Ten control samples were negative. The results showed that Toxoplasma gondii infection was present in the disease cases. The finding indicates that the infection of Toxoplasma gondii may be one of the main causes of the abnormal birth and the congenital teratosis.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

[Toxoplasma serology in HIV infected patients and suspected cerebral toxoplasmosis at the Central Hospital of Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina Faso)].

A study was conducted in the Internal Medicine unit of Bobo-Dioulasso Hospital. Of the 1828 HIV positive patients admitted in medical wards, 268 presented neurological symptoms. 25.4% had positive Toxoplasma gondii serology. Encephalitis was associated with 12.5% of this latter group and intracranial hypertension with focal neurological defects affected a further 47.5% of them. Presumptive treatment of toxoplasmosis led to significant clinical improvement in 60% of cases. Toxoplasma gondii serology should be part of the standard check-up for every HIV-infected patient, and toxoplasmosis chemoprophylaxis should be given to those with positive toxoplasma serology. Presumptive therapy of toxoplasmosis should be started for all HIV positive patients with focal neurological manifestations in the absence of a cerebral scanner.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed2000

Skeletal muscle pathology in 2 siblings infected with Toxoplasma gondii.

Skeletal muscle can be the site of inflammatory diseases that lead to muscle weakness, pain, and increased myogenic serum enzymes. Most of these inflammatory myopathies are idiopathic. In some cases inflammatory myopathies are due to infectious agents. We describe the pathological aspects of muscle biopsies of 2 Brazilian siblings who acquired toxoplasmosis at the same time and in similar conditions. One developed a tetraplegia that was confirmed to be due to inflammatory myositis due to toxoplasma. The other developed myocarditis, with heart failure, without skeletal muscle weakness. In both cases many toxoplasma organisms were observed in the muscle biopsies, but in case 1 only was there an inflammatory myopathy with myofiber necrosis; the inflammatory cells were predominantly macrophages with some CD4+ cells and rare CD20+ cells. In case 1, expression of CD54 was observed in many inflammatory cells as well in endothelial cells, but only in endothelial cells in case 2. After treatment with clindamycin and corticosteroids both cases had only partial improvement, case 1 with a residual muscle weakness and case 2 with residual cardiac insufficiency (requiring digoxin). These cases show that the presence of the parasite in myofibers is not enough to induce an inflammatory myositis with muscle cell necrosis. This suggests that immunological disturbances may contribute to the development of inflammatory myositis due to toxoplasma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

[The chorioretinal location of Toxoplasma infection].

Considered rare and occurring only in immunocompromised patients or patients with severe infection, Toxoplasma gondii chorioretinitis--as a unique presenting sign of toxoplasmosis appears to occur with increased frequency over the last few years in immunocompetent patients. The typical clinical picture (central chorioretinal lesion with recurrent vasculitic reactions) and positive IgG Toxoplasma gondii serology confirmed our diagnosis. Negative Toxoplasma IgG serology in the mothers of 2 patients excluded the possibility of congenital toxoplasmosis. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of increased frequency of ocular toxoplasmosis in immunocompetent patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Seroprevalence of cytomegalovirus, toxoplasma and parvovirus in pregnancy.

AIM OF STUDY: The aim of our study was to determine the seroprevalence of cytomegalovirus (CMV), toxoplasma and parvovirus infection in our local antenatal population, and to see the effects, if any, of age, race, parity and nationality on its seroprevalence. METHODOLOGY: The sera of 120 consecutive antenatal women seen in KK Women's and Children's Hospital between the period of October 1997 and March 1998 were screened for cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgG, toxoplasma IgG and parvovirus B19 IgG and IgM. An antibody titer greater than 1:32 was regarded as positive. RESULTS: A total of 87.0% of patients were tested seropositive for CMV IgG, 17.2% seropositive for toxoplasma IgG and 30.0% seropositive for parvovirus IgG. There seemed to be a trend of increasing seropositivity with age in all three groups, however only parovirus B19 reached statistical significance. The incidence of all three infections were higher among the Malays, Indians and other races compared to the Chinese. CONCLUSION: CMV is endemic in our population and hence the most common infection. Toxoplasmosis and parvovirus is relatively low in our population but this implies that a large proportion of our antenatal women are still susceptible to these infections. Prevention of congenital CMV, toxoplasmosis and parvovirus infection is mainly by educating the antenatal population.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Destructive effect of heating against toxoplasma oocysts.

Heating was examined for destructive effect against Toxoplasma oocysts, both unsporulated and sporulated, of the O-1 and O-3 strains. Sporulation-inhibition rates were measured by counting sporulated and unsporulated oocysts in each examination. As a result, the sporulation of Toxoplasma oocysts was completely inhibited by exposure to 60 or 70 degrees C for 10 seconds, 55 degrees C for 30 seconds, 50 degrees C for 2.5 minutes. 45 degrees C for 1 hour, or 37 degrees C for 48 hours. When examined by the mouse inoculation method, the infectivity of sporulated oocysts became extinct after heating at 90 degrees C for 30 seconds, 80 degrees C for 1 minute, 70 degrees C for 2 minutes, 55 or 60 degrees C for 15 minutes, or 50 degrees C for 30 minutes. It was confirmed that heating was effective for the sterilization of Toxoplasma oocysts.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Interaction between macrophages of various origin and Toxoplasma gondii under conditions in vitro.

The study of proliferation of a virulent strain of Toxoplasma in cultures of macrophages of various origin revealed a certain sequence in the development of the pathogen: penetration and phagocytosis of the parasite, the stage of disintegration of one part of population and active proliferation of the other, resulting in the destruction of host cells. It was found that the penetration and phacocytosis were more active if macrophages from resistant animals (rats) were used, in comparison with those isolated from susceptible animals (white mice, guinea pigs). The activity of proliferation of a virulent strain of Toxoplasma also differs with the host cells: the toxoplasma multiply more rapidly in macrophages from susceptible animals than in those from resistant animals. The following changes of macrophages due to proliferation of the parasite were observed: change of form of the cell accompanied with the loss of cytoplasmatic processes, vacuolation of the cytoplasm, displacement of the nucleus towards the periphery followed by its pycnosis and rupture of the cell.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Study on detecting antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in pooled serum of blood donors by Dot-IGSS.

To prevent post-transfusion toxoplasmosis, the sera of blood donors, per six of which were mixed as a pool, were examined for anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibiodies by Dot-immunogold silver staining (Dot-IGSS) with the single serum specimens examined simultaneously. The results showed that the sensitivity and specificity of serum pool method were 92.31% and 99.96% respectively. The consistent rate between the two methods was 99.73% and kappa value was 0.947 (p<0.01). Considering the mean infection rate of Toxoplasma gondii being 4.86% in China, if the serum pool method be adoped, with pool size k=5, a 57% reduction in the number of tests, as well as the cost of the screen, can be expected. Beside the social benefit, consequent upon the interruption of the Toxoplasma gondii infection spread through blood transfusion also can be expected.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in HIV and non-HIV infected Thai pregnant women.

Serological evidence for Toxoplasma gondii infection in Thai pregnant women was investigated. One thousand six hundred and sixty-nine blood specimens were collected from 838 HIV-seropositive and 831 HIV-seronegative pregnant women attending the antenatal-care clinic at Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand, during a two-year period. Toxoplasma IgG antibody was detected, using a solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in which the membrane protein p-30 was the predominant antigen. IgG positive sera were subsequently examined for IgM antibody by the capture antibody enzyme immunoassay. The IgG antibody was found in 450 (53.7%) HIV seropositive women and 44 (5.3%) non-HIV infected women, with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.0001). Three of the 450 HIV-seropositive and 2 of the 44 HIV-seronegative sera with IgG antibody were positive for IgM antibody against T. gondii. This result suggested that HIV seropositive pregnant women had a higher risk of Toxoplasma infection with increase exposure to their offspring.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1998

[Detection of Toxoplasma gondii DNA in human lymph node tissue by in situ hybridization].

AIM: To detect the presence of Toxoplasma gondii in lymph node tissue in patients with Toxoplasma infection. METHODS: T. gondii (RH strain) specific DNA fragment clones were obtained by using PCR and gene recombination technique. The DNA fragments used as hybridization probes were labelled with digoxigenin by random primer method. The technique of in situ hybridization (ISH) was used to detect T. g DNA in the lymph node sections. RESULTS: Four out of 120 samples T. g DNA were found positive, one with Hodgkin's disease (HD) (1/32), one with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) (1/41) and 2 with chronic lymphadenitis (CL) (2/47). The total positive rate was 3.3%. It was demonstrated that this highly specific probe could detect 10 pg of the total RH strain T. g DNA. CONCLUSION: ISH was applicable in detecting pathogens in the lymph node tissues of individuals with Toxoplasma infection.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

In vitro activity of cotrimoxazole on the intracellular multiplication of Toxoplasma gondii.

Cotrimoxazole, from 60 mug/ml, inhibited the replication of Toxoplasma gondii within Hela cells and mouse peritoneal macrophages. The percentage of inhibition reached practically 100% after 18 hours of treatment at 37 degrees C. More prolonged treatment resulted in an eradication of the organisms from the cell monolayers. In contrast, similar doses of spiramycin were quite ineffective against intracellular toxoplasma. The active doses of cotrimoxazole used were not harmful for cell cultures. Cotrimoxazole also destroyed clones (rosaces) of toxoplasma which were formed during the past 18 hours of intracellular replication in the absence of the drug. Trimethoprim was the only effective compound of cotrimoxazole on intracellular parasites; the adjunction of sulfamethoxazole produced a marked synergistic effect. The present findings confirm the great efficiency of cotrimoxazole in the treatment of experimental toxoplasmosis in mice performed previously in this laboratory.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

In vitro amplification of Toxoplasma gondii rhoptry protein 2 gene and construction of its eukaryotic expression plasmid.

OBJECTIVE: To construct a recombinant eukaryotic expression plasmid containing rhoptry protein 2 (ROP2) gene of Toxoplasma gondii. METHOD: The truncated ROP2 gene was amplified from the genomic DNA of Toxoplasma gondii RH strain and cloned into plasmid pGEX-4T-1. The PCR product was subcloned into an eukaryotic expression plasmid pcDNA3 which was identified by enzyme digestion and PCR amplification. Sequence analysis of the insert in the recombinant plasmid was performed by Sanger's method. RESULTS: The amplified DNA fragment was about 1043 bp in length, with identical sequence with the published ROP2 gene sequence. Enzyme digestion and PCR analysis showed that the truncated ROP2 gene had been successfully cloned into plasmid pGEX-4T-1 and pcDNA3. CONCLUSION: The truncated ROP2 gene of Toxoplasma gondii has been amplified and cloned into the eukaryotic expression plasmid pcDNA3.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

[The relationship between the fate of the agent of toxoplasmosis, Toxoplasma gondii, in macrophages cultivated in vitro and the virulence of the parasites].

Comparative light microscopic and electron microscopic studies of development of a highly-virulent RH strain and a less virulent Lagrave strain of Toxoplasma cultivated in macrophages in vitro were made. Contrary to active multiplication of the highly virulent strain most of toxoplasmas of a less virulent strain disintegrated the first hours, degenerating completely in 24-48 hours after the penetration into the macrophages. Submicroscopic study showed no marked cytological changes of macrophages infected with a less virulent strain in comparison with the marked changes of the nuclei in macrophages infected with the RH strain. Disintegration of parasites within the phagosome was accompanied by a gradual transformation of an originally double (or triple) vacuolar membrane to a single membrane and by the disappearance of an additional layer of mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum elements surrounding the vacuolar membrane. It is likely that the capacity of toxoplasma to develop in macrophages in vitro could become an additional marker to its virulence for albino mice.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Specific anti-Toxoplasma antibodies in relation to infection and reinfection using different infective stages.

The possibility of rat re-infection with different Toxoplasma gondii stages was studied in this work. Two groups of rats were infected with either intra-peritoneal injection of 1000 trophozoites of virulent Toxoplasma strain or 1000 oocysts through oral routes. IgA, IgM and IgG were detected 15, 30, 60 and 120 days post infections. IgA and IgM appeared as early as 15 days post infection but declined afterwards. IgA antibody response was more prominent with oocyst infection and IgM was more prominent with tachyzoite infection with insignificant statistical difference. On the other hand, IgG started to increase 60 days post infection, then increased gradually till the end of the experiment (120 days). The primary orally infected rats were either re-infected orally with oocysts or intra-peritoneal trophozoites and re-examined after 15 and 120 days for the same immunological parameters. Those rats which primary infected with intra-peritoneal trophozoites were re-examined after oral infection with oocysts or injection of trophozoites intra-peritoneal. The level of IgA and IgM in one rat of group A and 2 rats of group B were significantly increased and this occurred in presence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG from the primary infection. In this study, the rats were lab-bred so, the factors affect the immune system could be under control, also strain variability was excluded as the infection was only by one strain, and as the IgG level was high, these rats were presumed to be immune from the primary infection. So, the rats which became positive after challenge most probably re-infected.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Reciprocal heterologous protection between Trichinella spiralis and Toxoplasma gondii concurrently present in experimental murine models.

Mixed parasitic infections have been long seen as a double impact on the host. In this study a different view of polyparasitism is demonstrated. The influence of the immunological environments created by two biologically different parasites on the pathogenesis of each other was evaluated. Swiss albino mice were sequentially infected with the intracellular protozoan Toxoplasma gondii (acute and latent), which elicits a T-helper 1 (Th1)-polarized immune response and the helminth parasite Trichinella spiralis, whose infection is predominated by a Th2 response. The results show a significant heterologous protection from one parasite towards the other. There was a highly significant lower Trichinella muscle larvae burden in mixed infection group compared to single Trichinella infection, in spite of delayed intestinal adult worm expulsion in the mixed infection group. A highly significant lower burden of T. gondii brain cysts in mixed infection compared to single latent Toxoplasma infection was also demonstrated. Concerning the anti-Toxoplasma antibody response, there was a significant lower levels in the latent Toxo-Trich. group compared to the group of latent toxoplasmosis only. These significant lower antibody titers were reproducible by two different assays; dye test and direct agglutination test.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

[Detection of Toxoplasma infection in women with gynaecologic neoplasms using ELISA].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the concurrent in Toxoplasma infection among women with cervical cancer. METHODS: The anti-Toxoplasma IgG, IgM antibodies (Abs) and circulating antigens (CAg) in 247 sera (from 50 cases with cervical cancer in group 1, 59 cases with gynaecological benign tumors in group 2 and 138 cases with other diseases in group 3) were detected by ELISA. RESULTS: The total positive rates of the CAg and the Abs in the three groups were 44.0% (22/50), 25.4% (15/59) and 20.3% (28/138), respectively. The positive rates were 20.0%, 11.9% and 10.9%, respectively for IgG 20.0%, 13.6% and 8.7%, respectively for IgM and 14.0%, 5.1% and 1.4% respectively for CAg. CONCLUSION: The Toxoplasma infection rate of the cervical cancer group was higher than those of the other two groups, particularly the positive rates of CAg and IgM.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

[Cytochemical study of different stages in the life cycle of Toxoplasma gondii. I. Amylopectin and lipids in endozoites].

Attempts were made to localize cytochemically acid micopolysaccharides, in addition to sulphate groups of mucosubstances in Toxoplasma endozoites of SS-119 and RH strains with negative results. Amylopectin was found to be the only polysaccharide so far detected in the endozoite stage, using the PAS technique. With RH strain toxoplasmas, the dynamics of amylopectin was followed within 6 days after mouse inoculation. On day 2, toxoplasmas and the host cells of the mouse peritoneal exudate being practically PAS-negative, the amount of amylopectin increased progressively towards day 6. The immune response of the host may be presumably involved in the pattern of this dynamics. Phospholipids were detected in the cytoplasm of intra- and extracellular endozoites of strain SS-119. Little, if any, amount of neutral fat was observed. Of special interest is the increased phospholipid content in the infected host cells.

Amylopectin↗
PubMed2004

Genetic analysis of the diversity in Toxoplasma gondii.

More than 50 different genetic markers are now available for Toxoplasma gondii isolate typing. For most of them, allelic polymorphism is low (2 to 4 alleles). A few markers, more polymorphic, can be used to fingerprint isolates for epidemiological studies. Phylogenetic analysis detects 2 main groups in Toxoplasma population. Group 2 is genetically heterogeneous. From a practical point of view, 3 main types (types I, II and III) are usually considered. Multilocus genotyping is necessary to reveal atypical or recombinant genotypes, more frequent among isolates collected in remote areas or in wild game. Toxoplasma isolates from human toxoplasmosis are mainly from type II (whatever the severity of clinical disease), but type I and atypical genotypes are found only in severe cases of human toxoplasmosis.

Animals↗