title: Laboratory passage and characterization of an isolate of Toxoplasma gondii from an ocular patient in Korea.
abstract: Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites were isolated from the blood of an ocular patient, and have been successfully passaged in the laboratory, for over a year, by peritoneal inoculation in mice. The isolated parasite was designated the Korean Isolate-1 (KI-1) and its characteristics were compared with those of the RH strain, a wellknown virulent strain originating from a child who suffered from encephalitis. The morphology, pathogenicity, infectivity and cell culture characteristics of the KI-1 were similar to those of the RH strain. Both RH and KI-1 antigens were detected by an anti-T. gondii monoclonal antibody (mAb), Tg563, against the major surface protein SAG1 (30 kDa), whereas no reaction was observed against an anti-Neospora caninum mAb, 12B4. The KI-1 was confirmed as an isolate of T. gondii. A long-term laboratory maintenance and characterization of a local T. gondii isolate is reported for the first time in the Republic of Korea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, and Institute of Endemic Diseases, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul 110-799, Korea. cjy@plaza.snu.ac.kr
authors.forename: Jong-Yil
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.forename: Aifen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Eun-Hee
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Myoung-Don
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Eun-Taek
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Ho-Woo
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Nan
authors.forename: Soon-Hyung
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000469:parasitology; D012510:Sarcoma 180; D012692:Serial Passage; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014126:Toxoplasmosis, Ocular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan