The lymphoid system of Toxoplasma infected mice

Abstract

Acute toxoplasmosis was induced in CFLP mice by intraperitoneal infection with the virulent RH strain of Toxoplasma gondii. The relative lymphoid organ weights and absolute lymphocyte counts were determined in mice killed in regular intervals after the infection. Characteristic changes of the lymphoid system were found in the course of acute toxoplasma infection; spleen hypertrophy began at 6 h after infection and its rate increased continuously till death. The thymus showed first hypertrophy, then it gradually decreased with grave atrophy at the time of death. The absolute lymphocyte count had decreased by the 6th h to reach a significantly low value by the time of death.