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


CONCLUSIONS
ISH was applicable in detecting pathogens in the lymph node tissues of individuals with Toxoplasma infection.
Liu
C
C
Department of Infectious Diseases, Xiang Ya Hospital, Hunan Medical University, Changsha, 410008.
Ke
O
O
Tan
D
D
Zhang
Z
Z
D000818:Animals; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis*; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000469:parasitology*; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000469:parasitology; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000469:parasitology*
D016054:DNA, Protozoan