Comparison of Giemsa Staining, Intraperitoneal Injection and Oral Administration Methods in Rat’s Infected Brain with Toxoplasma Gondii

Background: Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most common protozoan parasites in humans and animals in all countries of the world. The aim of this study was to detect Toxoplasma parasite in the brain of wild rats in Tehran using smear preparation, Giemsa staining, Intraperitoneal injection and oral administration to mice.

Patients and Methods: Forty rats were collected from different areas of Tehran. Smears were prepared from rat brains on glass slides and stained using Giemsa. In the second method, a cell suspension was prepared from rat brain and was given orally and injected intraperitoneally into mice. In peritoneal method, peritoneum of the mice was examined for parasites. In oral method, the titer of Toxoplasma antibody in sera of mice was determined using Toxoplasma IgG antibody kit and anti-mouse conjugate of Sigma company.

Results: All results were negative in Giemsa staining method. In the second method, the results were negative and no parasites were observed in peritoneum of mice. In oral administration method, after ingestion of suspensions by mice and measuring the IgG titer, 50% of them showed a positive titer after one month.

Conclusion: In detection of Toxoplasma gondii, the method of smear preparation on glass slides followed by Giemsa staining, and intraperitoneal injection of brain suspensions to mice are of less value in comparison with oral administration of suspensions and determining the titer of IgG in sera of mice.