Korean J Parasitol.  2003 Sep;41(3):147-154. 10.3347/kjp.2003.41.3.147.

Laboratory passage and characterization of an isolate of Toxoplasma gondii from an ocular patient in Korea

• Chai JY
• Lin A
• Shin EH
• Oh MD
• Han ET
• Nan HW
• Lee SH

• KMID: 1720472
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2003.41.3.147

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites were isolated from the blood of an ocular patient, and have been successfully passaged in the laboratory, for over a year, by peritoneal inoculation in mice. The isolated parasite was designated the Korean Isolate-1 (KI-1) and its characteristics were compared with those of the RH strain, a wellknown virulent strain originating from a child who suffered from encephalitis. The morphology, pathogenicity, infectivity and cell culture characteristics of the KI-1 were similar to those of the RH strain. Both RH and KI-1 antigens were detected by an anti-T. gondii monoclonal antibody (mAb), Tg563, against the major surface protein SAG1 (30 kDa), whereas no reaction was observed against an anti-Neospora caninum mAb, 12B4. The KI-1 was confirmed as an isolate of T. gondii. A long-term laboratory maintenance and characterization of a local T. gondii isolate is reported for the first time in the Republic of Korea.

Keyword

Toxoplasma gondii Korean Isolate-1 (KI-1) and RH strain; ocular patient; immunoblotting; culture (in vitro) ; passage (in mice)

MeSH Terms

Animals
Antigens, Protozoan/analysis
Female
Humans
Korea
Mice
Mice, Inbred BALB C
Microscopy, Electron
Middle Aged
Parasitemia/parasitology
Sarcoma 180
Serial Passage
Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
*Toxoplasma/classification/growth & development/isolation & purification/pathogenicity
Toxoplasmosis, Ocular/*diagnosis/parasitology
Tumor Cells, Cultured
Virulence