Detection of Acute Toxoplasmosis: The Genitally Transmittable Infection

Objectives: Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that infects a broad range of warmblooded animals including human. Tachyzoites of T.gondii invade the host cell, replicate and finally lead to the lysis of the cell. T. gondii is associated with congenital infection and it can cause encephalitis, or systemic infection in immunocompromised patients. It is important to know whether the infection is recently acquired or is chronic. Differentiation between acute and chronic infection has a dramatic impact, especially for the developing fetus. In this study, Toxoplasma gondii was detected in acute phase of infection in serum sample of a person who had been accidentally infected with tachyzoites of RH strain in the laboratory. Materials and Methods: AntiT.gondii IgG antibody was prepared by rabbit immunization with soluble antigen of tachyzoites of RH strain. CaptureELISA, immunoblotting and PCR were performed in the laboratory. Results: : Antigenemia and parasitemia was detected in serum sample of infected person by capture_ELISA, immunoblotting and PCR techniques respectively. Conclusion: Acute T.gondii infection could be detectable in a short period of time in the sera of infected person. 1Tehran University of Medical Sciences, School of Public Health, Tehran, Iran. Article History: Received 11 October 2013 Accepted 7 January 2014 Revised 26 December 2013 Available online 7 January 2014 Corresponding Author: Saeedeh Shojaee, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, School of Public Health, Tehran, Iran. Tel: +982188951392 Email: [email protected]