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Title: CYTOKINE AND LYMPHOCYTE PROFILE IN MINIATURE SWINE AFTER ORAL INFECTION WITH TOXOPLASMA GONDII OOCYSTS

Author
item Solano-Aguilar, Gloria
item Beshah, Ethiopia
item VENGROSKI, K - USDA ARS IDRL
item Zarlenga, Dante
item JAUREGUI, L - USDA ARS IDRL
item COSIO, M - USDA ARS IDRL
item DOUGLASS, L - U MD COLLEGE PARK
item Dubey, Jitender
item Lunney, Joan

Submitted to: International Immunology Congress
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/15/2001
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: A major strategy for the prevention of Toxoplasmosis in swine is the understanding of the immune response against Toxoplasma gondii infection by defining specific responding cells and cytokines which may induce definitive protection. The phenotype of PBMC and the kinetics of IFN-g, IL- 12 and IL-10 transcriptional changes were characterized in T. gondii oocyst tinfected NIH miniature swine. An increase in expression of activation markers CD25 and SLA-DQ was detected in the first week of infection. A significant increase in % of CD8+ cells was observed in week 2. Relative competitive RT-PCR analysis indicated an increase in IFN-gamma RNA as well as a reduction in IL-10 mRNA during week 2 post infection. An increase in IL-12 transcription was not observed until the fourth week of infection. The ability of the pigs to respond to T. gondii infection by simultaneously inducing pro-inflammatory cytokines early and anti- inflammatory cytokines later is a likely indication of the requirement to strike a balance between controlling parasite growth and avoiding cytokine toxicity.