Fluorogenic detection of viable Toxoplasma gondii

Abstract

In order to easily assess growth and destruction of Toxoplasma gondii in vitro, this report describes two double staining assays that both visualize live and dead organisms: acridine orange - ethidium bromide (AO-EB) and bisbenzimide (Hoechst 33258) - propidium iodide (B-PI). EB and PI were chosen for dead organisms staining while AO and B stain viable organisms. Thus, both double staining assays seem more informative than Giemsa staining or indirect immunofluorescence. They offer methods to study internal structure of the parasite as well as information on host-parasite relationships. Moreover, detection in culture are sensitive, easier, and less time consuming than previous methods. So, they should to be useful in strains behaviour analysis.