Cultivation of Toxoplasma gondii in Tissue Cultures of Various Derivations

Abstract

A tissue culture spectrum of mammalian and avian cells which will support the growth of T. gondii is presented. A relation between temperature and the multiplication of Toxoplasma in tissue cultures suggests that proliferation of the parasite may be dependent on the rate of host cell metabolism but studies on colchicine-treated cells indicate that this dependency is not related to metabolic activities involving mitotic division which are disturbed by colchicine. Evidence suggests the presence of non-susceptible cells in tissue cultures of monkey kidney. The degree of virulence of Toxoplasma (RH strain) appeared to be maintained after prolonged serial passage in tissue culture. Toxin production by toxoplasmas was not shown.