Toxoplasma gondii: Virulence of tachyzoites in serum free media at different temperatures

Highly virulent Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoite multiplication was recorded on the 4th and 5th days post cultivation (dpc) in seven selected cell lines either with or without fetal calf serum (FCS) in the maintenance media. The multiplication rate was slightly lower in the absence of FCS. The cell line mono-layers collapsed dying by the 6th day of infection both in presence or absence of FCS at 37 °C. Carcinoma of human larynx (Hep2) and Madian Darby Bovine Kidney (MDBK) cell lines were the most suitable for in vitro multiplication, followed by that of African green monkey kidney cells (VERO), pooled kidney from 1-day-old hamster (BHK), rabbit kidney cells (RK13) and human rhabdomyosarcoma (RDA), while Chicken embryo cells (CER) were the least suitable. In absence of FCS, CER, BHK, Hep2, RDA and MDBK were able to maintain virulent tachyzoites at +4 °C for 14 days. The infectivity of the tachyzoites was however lower, killing 40% of the inoculated mice. Tachyzoites survived at room temperature, in the dark, for 14 days in Hep2, RDA and MDBK. However, Hep2 was the only one able to keep virulent tachyzoites until 21 dpc at room temperature and at +4 °C. Hep2 propagated tachyzoites were still alive but with low infectivity up to 28 dpc. The cell-lines failed to support the development of tachyzoites after 7 dpc at 37 °C and after the 35 dpc at lower temperatures.