Short-term culture adaptation of Toxoplasma gondii archetypal II and III field isolates affects cystogenic capabilities and modifies virulence in mice.

Most Toxoplasma gondii research has been carried out using strains maintained in the laboratory for long periods of time. Long-term passage in mice or cell culture influences T. gondii phenotypic traits such as the capability to produce oocysts in cats and virulence in mice.

Archetypal type II and III oocysts induce different immune responses and clinical outcomes in experimentally infected piglets.

Livestock animals, such as swine, are an important source of in the human population. Currently, there is limited knowledge regarding the potential influence that the genotype might exert on establishing infection in swine. Herein, we investigated the role of 2 isolates, type II and III, representative of the genotypes circulating in Europe, in the immune responses and infection dynamics in piglets.

A new inactivated vaccine that improves genital clearance of the infection and calving intervals in cattle.

Bovine trichomonosis is a sexually transmitted disease that is a primary cause of early reproductive failure in cattle. The aim of the present study was to develop a vaccine formulation based on s trophozoites inactivated by lyophilization and Quil-A-adjuvanted. The safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of this new vaccine formulation (Trichobovis) administered by two routes (subcutaneous: SC, and intravulvar: IVU) were compared with a commercial vaccine (TrichGuard) in a well-established experimental bovine model of genital infection.

Nc and Nc Play a Role in the Virulence of in a Pregnant Mouse Model.

The intraspecific variability among isolates in their in vitro behaviour and in vivo virulence has been widely studied. In particular, transcriptomic and proteomic analyses have shown a higher expression/abundance of specific genes/proteins in high-virulence isolates. Consequently, the dense granule protein NcGRA7 and the rhoptry protein NcROP40 were proposed as potential virulence factors.