Susceptibility of the Marmoset, Saguinus geoffroyi Pucheran, to Intraperitoneal and Oral Infections with Besnoitia (Protozoa: Toxoplasmea)

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Abstract
Cystic and proliferative stages of 2 strains of Besnoitia darlingi and a strain of B. jellisoni were highly pathogenic for marmosets, S. geoffroyi, when administered by either the intraperitoneal or oral route. The clinical picture of disease was similar for both routes of administration and resembled the acute form of the disease in mice. There was a significant correlation between numbers of parasites in intraperitoneal inocula and the day of death. Death after oral administration usually occurred somewhat later than after intraperitoneal inoculation. Cystic B. darlingi killed more quickly than proliferative forms when both were given orally; individual variation in monkey hosts probably were as important as strain or stage of the parasite with regard to time of death. Using relatively large numbers of organisms, all of 22 intraperitoneal infections and 21 of 26 oral infections proved fatal. Parasitemia was detectable in the time of death following both routes of inoculation. When the numbers of organisms were too small to establish a fatal infection they also failed to immunize. Protective immunity, detectable by subsequent intraperitoneal challenge; was established in 2 monkeys receiving large numbers of parasites by mouth. A monkey which became demonstrably immune to B. jellisoni (PN-3) was shown by heterologous challenge to be still susceptible to B. darlingi (D-3).

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