title: Mitogen and antigen-specific induction of lymphoblast transformation in cats with subclinical toxoplasmosis.
abstract: Lymphoblast transformation in whole blood was assessed by 3H-thymidine incorporation after stimulation by concanavalin A and Toxoplasma gondii secretory and intracellular antigens in samples from cats with experimentally induced toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasma gondii-specific immunoglobulin M, immunoglobulin G, and circulating antigens were also measured throughout the study period. Lymphocytes from all cats were responsive to concanavalin A pre- and post-inoculation with T. gondii. Suppression of mitogen-stimulated lymphoblast transformation during the course of infection was not observed. Both the secretory and intracellular antigens stimulated lymphoblast transformation in many cats from Week 2 to Week 52 post-inoculation. Lymphoblast transformation was stimulated more frequently by intracellular antigens (66.25%) than by secretory antigens (48.75%). Lymphoblast transformation was not induced by T. gondii antigens in any cat prior to appearance of T. gondii-specific antibodies in serum or during the oocyst shedding period. Cats with persistent antigenemia had the most consistent lymphoblast transformation results induced by T. gondii-specific antigens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens 30602.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Lappin
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Dawe
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lindl
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Greene
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Prestwood
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology*; D002415:Cats; D003208:Concanavalin A; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000276:immunology*; D014709:Vero Cells
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D003208:Concanavalin A