Analysis of Toxoplasma Gondii Antigens by Agar Diffusion Methods

Abstract

Summary A T. gondii CF antigen, a hemagglutination antigen, a T. gondii antigen free of leukocytes, and an antigen prepared from the supernatant of peritoneal exudate were studied by the Ouchterlony technique and by absorption procedures in gel-diffusion reactions. Four to seven bands of host origin and one to three bands of parasite origin were found in these antigens. Human and rabbit sera produced two to three heterophile bands when tested with normal mouse serum antigen or T. gondii antigens which contained high concentrations of mouse peritoneal exudate. An immunoelectrophoretic analysis of these T. gondii antigens revealed the presence of 1 to 14 host components. The complement fixation T. gondii antigen contained 14 host components; the hemagglutination antigen, 8 components; and an antigen freed of leukocytes and peritoneal exudate, only 1 component. From three to four parasite components were also found. A total of four parasite components and two antigens of doubtful parasite origin were found in the T. gondii antigens. Human sera with high antibody titers demonstrated two of the four parasite bands with electrophoretic mobility of and β1 α2 mouse serum components. The preparation of specific T. gondii antigens for serologic tests based on the Ouchterlony and immunoelectrophoretic analysis and suggestions for their preparation are discussed.