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Research article1997Peer reviewed

Toxoplasma gondii infection in the mountain hare (Lepus timidus) and domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). II. Early immune reactions

Gustafsson, K; Wattrang, E; Fossum, C; Heegaard, PMH; Lind, P; Uggla, A

Abstract

As already reported, the mountain hare is much more susceptible than the domestic rabbit to oral inoculation with Toxoplasma gondii, as judged by pathological changes and dissemination of parasites within the body. In the present paper, further interspecies variations are reported. Concentrations of the acute phase reactant haptoglobin were raised in hares but not in rabbits one week post-infection (pi), probably reflecting the severe tissue damage present. No difference in the early humoral immune response of hares and rabbits was found, both species producing IgM and IgG antibodies to T. gondii one week pi. Lymphocyte stimulation tests performed before and one week after inoculation showed a high proliferative response to the parasite in blood cell cultures from rabbits but not hares. The fatal outcome of T. gondii infection in the hares is probably due, at least in part, to the lack of cellular response. (C) 1997 W.B. Saunders Company Limited.

Published in

Journal of Comparative Pathology
1997, Volume: 117, number: 4, pages: 361-369
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCI LTD

      SLU Authors

    • Wattrang, Eva

      • Department of Molecular Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

      • Fossum, Caroline

        • Department of Molecular Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

      UKÄ Subject classification

      Clinical Science

      Publication identifier

      DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9975(97)80083-7

      Permanent link to this page (URI)

      https://res.slu.se/id/publ/106624