[Detection of DNA of Toxoplasma gondii in rat by using polymerase chain reaction].
OBJECTIVE
To study the significance of DNA of Toxoplasma gondii in peripheral blood.


METHODS
DNA of T. gondii in peripheral blood of 50 infected rats was detected by polymerase chain reaction. A pair of primers was designed, according to the sequence P30 gene specific to T. gondii, to amplify DNA from T. gondii by PCR.


RESULTS
The primers amplified DNA specifically from T. gondii and could not amplify DNA from humans, uninfected rat and mouse and from Trichomonas vaginalis and Entamoeba histolytica. DNA of two Toxoplasma parasites was detected by 35 cycles of amplification, indicating a fair sensitivity of the PCR system.


CONCLUSIONS
PCR may have a value for early diagnosis of T. gondii infection in rat.
Geng
Z H
ZH
Department of the Third Centre, Norman Bethune University of Medical Sciences, Changchun, 130021.
He
C Y
CY
Zhang
Y S
YS
Li
S H
SH
Du
J
J
Liu
L
L
Fang
Y Q
YQ
Zhu
G
G
Li
J H
JH
D000818:Animals; D017931:DNA Primers; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology
D017931:DNA Primers; D016054:DNA, Protozoan