Structures of Toxoplasma gondii Tachyzoites, Bradyzoites, and Sporozoites and Biology and Development of Tissue Cysts |
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| Authors: | J. P. Dubey D. S. Lindsay C. A. Speer |
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| Affiliation: | Parasite Biology and Epidemiology Laboratory, Livestock and Poultry Sciences Institute, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, Maryland 20705-23501.; Center for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Virginia Tech, College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, Virginia 240612.; and Veterinary Molecular Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana 597173. |
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| Abstract: | Infections by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii are widely prevalent worldwide in animals and humans. This paper reviews the life cycle; the structure of tachyzoites, bradyzoites, oocysts, sporocysts, sporozoites and enteroepithelial stages of T. gondii; and the mode of penetration of T. gondii. The review provides a detailed account of the biology of tissue cysts and bradyzoites including in vivo and in vitro development, methods of separation from host tissue, tissue cyst rupture, and relapse. The mechanism of in vivo and in vitro stage conversion from sporozoites to tachyzoites to bradyzoites and from bradyzoites to tachyzoites to bradyzoites is also discussed. |
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