EFFECT OF PASSIVELY TRANSFERRED HETEROLOGOUS SERUM ON TOXOPLASMA-GONDII IN NMRI MICE - INFLUENCE OF TREATMENT ON COURSE OF INFECTION AND CYST FORMATION

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 240  (1) , 135-142
Abstract
Anti-Toxoplasma serum from rabbits or normal Toxoplasma-negative serum from humans was administered to NMRI mice by i.p., i.v. or oral routes. Transfer of immune serum i.p. 48 h before lethal challenge with cyst forming Alt strain conferred significant resistance to normal recipients as assessed by a 55% reduction in the number of brain cysts and 89% survival rate. Survivors of the groups receiving oral administration of immune or normal serum 48 h prior to challenge also showed a reduction in the number of brain cysts of 50% and 21%, respectively. Animals given immune serum by i.p. or oral routes 48 h after, or a small i.v. dose 1 day before challenge showed higher survival rates in comparison to controls but had an enhancement of infection as revealed by increased number of brain cysts.