[Early kinetics of Toxoplasma gondii infection in mice infected intragastrically with tachyzoites by chromogenic in situ hybridization targeting SAG2 mRNA].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the early kinetics of Toxoplasma gondii infection in mice inoculated with tachyzoites of RH strain.


METHODS
Twenty BALB/c mice were administered intragastrically with tachyzoites of RH strain (2 x 10(4)/mice). Parasite burdens in mesenteric lymph node (MLN), liver, spleen, lung and brain were determined by chromogenic in situ hybridization targeting SAG2 mRNA at 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 days postinfection. Five mice were inoculated with PBS as blank control.


RESULTS
The MLN, liver and spleen were the first organs where tachyzoites were found on the first day after infection, followed by the lungs on the 4th day and the brain on the 6th day. On days 6 to 8 after infection, there was a significant difference on parasite load among the tissues (P < 0.05), and the parasite load in MLN was highest, followed by that of liver, spleen, lungs and brain. The number of tachyzoites in various tissues was time-dependent.


CONCLUSIONS
T. gondii tachyzoites were first detected in MLN, liver and spleen, then in the lungs, and finally in the brain. The number of tachyzoites in the MLNs increased more rapidly.
Meng
Xiao-li
XL
Institute of Medical Parasitology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China.
Ma
Xiao-ming
XM
Yin
Guo-rong
GR
Liu
Hong-li
HL
Yin
Li-tian
LT
Shen
Jin-yan
JY
Wang
Hai-long
HL
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000469:parasitology; D008168:Lung / Q000469:parasitology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000469:parasitology; D008643:Mesentery / Q000469:parasitology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D013154:Spleen / Q000469:parasitology; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology