Abstract
The preservation of a pure suspension of Toxoplasma gondii for use as antigen in a direct agglutination test for Toxoplasma antibodies is described. The test is macroscopic and avoids the use of live parasites; it is easily carried out and the results obtained have shown good correlation with other tests in common use. The specificity of the test was demonstrated by experiments on immunization, by absorption studies and by absence of cross-reactions in the sera of man and animals infected with a wide range of parasites. Agglutinins, which we have termed ‘natural’ agglutinins, appear to occur in some sera and can be absorbed with suspensions of T. gondii. The distribution of antibodies in approximately 500 blood donors engaged in sedentary occupations around London was determined. Males and females were equally affected and age appeared to be without influence on agglutinating titres. Chronic infection in rats gave rise to high agglutinating titres, and growth was retarded.
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