Toxoplasma gondii and mast cell interactions in vivo and in vitro: experimental infection approaches in Calomys callosus (Rodentia, Cricetidae).

In the present work, we studied some qualitative and quantitative characteristics of mast cells located in the peritoneal cavity, submandibular and dorsal lymph nodes and ileum of Calomys callosus experimentally infected by Toxoplasma gondii. In uninfected animals, the majority of mast cells had similar ultra-structural characteristics, including several cytoplasmic granules with homogeneous and electron dense contents. However, after 1 h of infection, a significant influx of mast cells into peritoneal cavity was observed.