Replication and distribution of Toxoplasma gondii in the small intestine after oral infection with tissue cysts.

ABSTRACT: Natural infection by Toxoplasma gondii occurs via oral ingestion of tissue cysts that rupture in the small intestine, releasing zoites that infect locally before disseminating throughout the host. The studies presented here used fluorescent parasites combined with flow cytometry and multiphoton microscopy techniques to understand the events associated with parasite replication in the mucosa. At 3 days postinfection with tissue cysts, parasites were localized in small foci and flow cytometry revealed parasites present in macrophages, neutrophils, and monocytes in the lamina propria. By day 6 postinfection, there were large foci of replicating parasites; however, foci unexpectedly varied in the number of villi involved and were associated with the presence of viable tachyzoites within the in

SUBMITTER: Gregg B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3647985 | biostudies-literature | 2013 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature