Feline toxoplasmosis from acutely infected mice and the development of Toxoplasma cysts

Abstract

The development of Toxoplasma cysts was studied in mice inoculated with tachyzoites by several routes. After 1-30 days of infection, murine tissues were examined microscopically and portions or whole carcasses were fed to mice and cats. The feces of the cats were examined for oocyst shedding. Cyst-like structures containing distinct PAS-positive granules were first seen after 3 days of infection with tachyzoites, and became numerous by 6 days. Argyrophilic walls were first seen after 6 days, and became numerous by 16 days of infection with tachyzoites. Prepatent periods to oocyst shedding (PPO) were either "short" (3-10 days) or "long" (19-48 days). The "short" PPO was found only in cats that had ingested mice infected for 3 days or longer, and was related to the development of PAS-positive granules in T. gondii, and to high, 60-100%, oral infectivity rates for cats. The "long" PPO followed the ingestion of mice infected for only 1-2 days, and was related to tachyzoites without distinct PAS-positive granules and low, 32% or less, infectivity for cats. The "long" PPO followed also the ingestion of oocysts and the parenteral inoculation of tachyzoites, bradyzoites, or sporozoites. Using the "short" PPO as a criterion for detecting cysts in tissues, it was shown that (a) numerous cysts developed in mice 5 days after inoculation with tachyzoites, 7-9 days after inoculation with cysts, and 9-10 days after inoculation with oocysts, and (b) cysts developed faster and more frequently in the brain and muscle than in lungs, liver, spleen, and kidneys of mice inoculated with tachyzoites.