Activity of Human Blood Leukocytes against Toxoplasma gondii

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Abstract
Previous reports on the ability of Toxoplasma gondii to multiply within human mononuclear phagocytes have supported the concept that the phagocytes may protect Toxoplasma from antibody and act as a transport mechanism for dissemination of the organism throughout the body. However, after phagocytosis of viable Toxoplasma, >80% of freshly isolated human peripheral blood monocytes and 50% of polymorphonuclear leukocytes rapidly destroyed these intracellular organisms. Virtually no replication of Toxoplasma occurred within these cells, as determined by microscopic examination and by uptake of [3H]uracil. These results suggested that circulating phagocytes from humans restrict rather than facilitate the initial dissemination of Toxoplasma.