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The behaviour of suckling rats to oral and intraperitoneal infection with a virulent strain of Toxoplasma gondii

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

C. Kulasiri
Affiliation:
Department of Parasitology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, England

Extract

Suckling rats of various ages were infected with large doses of the 'RH' strain of Toxoplasma gondii either by intraperitoneal injection or by feeding. Among the intraperitoneally infected rats of different age-groups, the percentage of survival remained low up to 23-day-old rats, after which it increased sharply. The percentage of infection was 100%. Among the rats infected by feeding, the percentage of survival was low in rats up to 5 days old at the time of feeding, after which it increased sharply and remained more or less constant. The percentage of infection decreased gradually with increasing age. These results are discussed in the light of previous knowledge.

My thanks are due to Professor P. C. C. Garnham for his interest in this study and for providing me with the facilities. My thanks are also due to Mr Z. W. Pokrzywnicki of the Department of Bacteriology for his assistance with the Polish literature.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1962

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