Veterinary vaccines against Toxoplasma gondii.
Toxoplasma gondii has a very wide intermediate host range and is thought to be able to infect all warm blooded animals. The parasite causes a spectrum of different diseases and clinical symptoms within the intermediate hosts and following infection most animals develop adaptive humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. The development of protective immunity to T. gondii following natural infection in many host species has led researchers to look at vaccination as a strategy to control disease, parasite multiplication and establishment in animal hosts. A range of different veterinary vaccines are required to help control T. gondii infection which include vaccines to prevent congenital toxoplasmosis, reduce or eliminate tissue cysts in meat producing animals and to prevent oocyst shedding in cats. In this paper we will discuss some of the history, challenges and progress in the development of veterinary vaccines against T. gondii.
Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Edinburgh. lee.innes@moredun.ac.uk
Elisabeth A
EA
Innes
Paul M
PM
Bartley
Stephen
S
Maley
Frank
F
Katzer
David
D
Buxton
D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000151:congenital / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines