Summary
Mice were infected with eleven cyst-forming Toxoplasma strains of varying virulence and challenged 1 month later with highly virulent BK strain parasites. The early cellular reaction in vivo was estimated by collecting the peritoneal exudates 24 h after challenge. This consisted of 54.34–77.61% lymphocytes and 0–8.88% infected macrophages in the eleven immunized groups in contrast to 27.17% lymphocytes and 18.64% infected macrophages in the control group. The periotoneal exudate 72 h after challenge comprised of 55.88–73.86% lymphocytes and 0–6.97% infected macrophages compared to 25.88% lymphocytes and 92% infected macrophages in the control group. Following the virulent challenge, deaths occurred in seven of the eleven groups immunized with live strains and ranged 5–42% at the end of a 6-week observation period. The most virulent of the Toxoplasma strains used — Alt and Gail — gave higher mortality while the least virulent ones — 558, 1070, K8 and KSU — were solidly resistant. The significantly different mortality obtained with strains Alt, Gail and Witting in a similar experiment performed at an interval of 7 months is discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anderson, S.E., Bautista, S.C., Remington, J.S.: Specific antibody-dependent killing of Toxoplasma gondii by normal macrophages. Clin. exp. Immunol. 26, 375–380 (1976)
Berger, J., Piekarski, G.: Die Bedeutung der Toxoplasma-Infektion für Schwangerschaftsverlauf und Kindesentwicklung. Ergebnisse einer prospektiven Studie. Geburtsh. u. Frauenheilk. 35, 89–97 (1975)
Berger, J., Schoop, G.: Über ein an den Toxoplasma-Stamm BK (Winser van Thiel 1948) gekoppeltes, infektiöses Agens. Z. Med. Mikrobiol. Immunol. 153, 269–283 (1967)
Desmonts, G., Couvreur, J.: Congenital toxoplasmosis. A prospective study of 378 pregnancies. N. Eng. J. Med. 290, 1110–1116 (1974)
Frenkel, J.K.: Adoptive immunity to intracellular infection. J. Immunol. 98, 1309–1319 (1967)
Huldt, G.: Experimental toxoplasmosis. Acta path. microbiol. scand. 68, 605–621 (1966)
Janitschke, K., Jörren, H.R.: Untersuchungen über die Bedeutung der intrauterinen Übertragung von Toxoplasmen für die Verbreitung der Infektion bei Hauskaninchen. Z. Tropenmed. Parasit. 21, 246–251 (1970)
Jones, T.C., Len, L., Hirsch, J.A.: Assessment in vitro of immunity against Toxoplasma gondii. J. Exp. Med. 141, 466–482 (1975)
Mackaness, G.B.: The influence of immunologically committed lymphoid cells on macrophage activity in vivo. J. Exp. Med. 129, 973–992 (1969)
Masihi, K.N., Werner, H.: The effect of passively transferred heterologous serum on Toxoplasma gondii in NMRI mice. Influence of the treatment on course of infection and cyst formation. Zbl. Bakt. Hyg., I. Abt. Orig. A (in press)
Nakayama, I., Aoki, T.: The influence of antilymphocyte serum on the resistance of mice to Toxoplasma infection. Jap. J. Parasit. 19, 573–582 (1970)
Pelster, B.: Zelluläre Immunreaktionen bei der weißen Maus nach Superinfektion mit Toxoplasma gondii. Z. Parasitenk. 48, 95–110 (1975)
Reikvam, A., Grammeltvedt, R., Høiby, E.A.: Activated mouse macrophages: Morphology, lysosomal biochemistry, and microbicidal properties of in vivo and in vitro activated cells. Acta path. microbiol. scand. Sect. C 83, 129–138 (1975)
Remington, J.S., Krahenbuhl, J.L., Medenhall, J.W.: A role for activated macrophages in resistance to infection with Toxoplasma. Infect. Immun. 6, 829–834 (1972)
Ruskin, J., Remington, J.S.: Toxoplasmosis in the compromised host. Ann. Intern. Med. 84, 193–199 (1976)
Sethi, K.K., Pelster, B., Suzuki, N., Piekarski, G., Brandis, H.: Immunity to Toxoplasma gondii induced in vitro in non-immune mouse macrophages with specifically immune lymphocytes. J. Immunol. 115, 1151–1158 (1975)
Shirahata, T., Shimizu, K., Suzuki, N.: Effects of immune lymphocyte products and serum antibody on multiplication of Toxoplasma in murine peritoneal macrophages. Z. Parasitenk. 49, 11–23 (1976)
Stadtsbaeder, S., Nguyen, B.T., Calvin-Preval, M.C.: Respective role of antibodies and immune macrophages during acquired immunity against toxoplasmosis in mice. Ann. Immunol. (Inst. Pasteur) 126 C, 461–474 (1975)
Strannegard, O., Lycke, E.: Effect of antilymphocyte serum on experimental toxoplasmosis in mice. Infect. Immun. 5, 769–774 (1972)
Swartzberg, J.E., Krahenbuhl, J.L., Remington, J.S.: Dichotomy between macrophage activation and degree of protection against Listeria monocytogenes and Toxoplasma gondii in mice stimulated with Corynebacterium parvum. Infect. Immun. 12, 1037–1043 (1975)
Watson, W.A., Beverley, J.K.A.: Epizootics of toxoplasmosis causing ovine abortion. Vet. Rec. 88, 120–123 (1971)
Werner, H., Janitschke, K., Masihi, K.N., Adusu, E.: Über die Wirkung von Toxoplasma-Antikörpern auf T. gondii nach Reinfektion. Zbl. Bakt. Hyg., I. Abt. Orig. A238, 128–142 (1977)
Werner, H., Masihi, K.N., Tischer, I., Adusu, E.: The effect of chemoimmunotherapy with SDDS, pyrimethamine and anti-Toxoplasma serum on Toxoplasma gondii cysts in latent infected NMRI mice. Z. Tropenmed. Parasit. (in press)
Werner, H., Pichl. H.: Vergleichende Untersuchungen an zystenbildenden Toxoplasma-Stämmen. II. Zystenentwicklung und humorale Antikörperbildung. Zbl. Bakt. Hyg. I. Abt. Orig. A 210, 402–416 (1969)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Masihi, K.N., Werner, H. Immunization of NMRI mice against virulent Toxoplasma gondii. Differing efficacy of eleven cyst-forming Toxoplasma strains. Z. F. Parasitenkunde 54, 209–216 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00390112
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00390112