Experimental infection of Peromyscus californicus with Toxoplasma gondii.
Eight female Peromyscus californicus were infected with 10(2) or 10(4) Toxoplasma gondii culture-derived tachyzoites (Type II or X) isolated from southern sea otters. All but 2 mice survived infection and developed antibodies to T. gondii. The 2 fatally infected mice were inoculated with 10(4) tachyzoites of the Type X strain. Parasite detection by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and DNA amplification with 2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods was compared for brain, heart, lung, liver, spleen, biceps muscle, and tongue, at a mean of 41 days postinfection. Parasites were detected most commonly by IHC in spleen (8/8) and brain (6/8). DNA amplification by PCR was most successful from brain, heart, and spleen.
Dabritz
Haydee A
HA
School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California 95616, USA.
Miller
Melissa A
MA
Packham
Andrea E
AE
Rejmanek
Daniel
D
Leutenegger
Christian M
CM
Gardner
Ian A
IA
Atwill
E Robert
ER
Patricia A
Conrad
C
D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001921:Brain / Q000469:parasitology; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006321:Heart / Q000469:parasitology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010041:Otters; D010542:Peromyscus / Q000469:parasitology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011897:Random Allocation; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission; D013154:Spleen / Q000469:parasitology; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000276:immunology* / Q000635:transmission
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D016054:DNA, Protozoan