Horizontal transmission of Toxoplasma gondii in squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus)

Citation
T. Furuta et al., Horizontal transmission of Toxoplasma gondii in squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus), EXP ANIM, 50(4), 2001, pp. 299-306
Citations number
17
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Animal Sciences
Journal title
EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS
ISSN journal
1341-1357 → ACNP
Volume
50
Issue
4
Year of publication
2001
Pages
299 - 306
Database
ISI
SICI code
1341-1357(200107)50:4<299:HTOTGI>2.0.ZU;2-M
Abstract
The possibility of horizontal transmission of T. gondii was examined in squ irrel monkeys. After three monkeys were inoculated perorally with 1.1-2.1 x 10(3) cysts of the T. gondii ME49, the animals were divided into two cages and maintained with one normal monkey for each cage as a cagemate. Two out of the three T gondii-inoculated monkeys died, and the remaining one monke y was sacrificed in a moribund state one week after infection because of ac ute toxoplasmosis. Many T. gondii tachyzoites were recovered from broncho-a lveolar lavages and were also found histopathologically in the lung, liver, spleen, kidney and lymph nodes and impression smears of tissues from the t hree T. gondii-inoculated monkeys by Giemsa staining. Anti-T. gondii antibo dy was examined by immunoblot assay in these animals, and the antibody to T , gondii major surface membrane protein (p30) could be detected after the s tart of experiment. Furthermore, a specific band of T. gondii NTPase gene w as observed by PCR in the liver and lung of infected and cagemate monkeys, and the sequence of the second PCR products obtained from the cagemates, wh ich were clinically normal but gave a positive result in immunoblotting ass ay, was exactly the same as the sequence of the NTPase gene of T. gondii ME 49. These findings suggested that transmission of T, gondii from the infect ed monkeys to cagemates occurred easily, and since many T. gondii tachyzoit es were recovered from the bronchoalveolar lavages of the three T gondii-in oculated monkeys, we suggest that aerosol infection plays an important role for the enzootic toxoplasmosis in colonies of squirrel monkeys.