Search

Background Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan that can infect humans and other animals, including cattle. Cattle are one of the world’s main sources of meat, and people who consume raw or undercooked meat and milk of cattle infected with T. gondii can become infected. In this study, a total of 5292 dairy cattle serum samples, collected from 17 cities (Henan Province, China) from January 2015 to September 2017, were screened for antibodies against T. gondii. Results Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 1.93% (102/5292) (95% CI, 1.56–2.30) of dairy cattle using a modified agglutination test (cut-off 1:100). The results showed that geographic location and season may be risk factors for T. gondii infection of cattle (P

A novel triphenylamine derivative, 4,4′-bis-([1,10]phenanthrolin-2-yl) imidazo -triphenylamine (IPTPA) with an A-π-D-π-A structure, has been synthesized and characterized. The UV absorption, single and two-photon fluorescence spectra showed that IPTPA was highly sensitive to Ag+ with a lower detection limit of 3.97 nmoL/L and a moderate binding constant of 2.16 × 105/M at room temperature. The two-photon active cross-section of IPTPA was calculated with a value of 94.68 GM at 800 nm in the tris-HCl buffer solution. The binding mechanism between IPTPA and Ag+ were explored by the Job plot, ESI-MS and 1H NMR. The A-π-D-π-A structure of IPTPA was substituted by the A-π-D-π-D structure of IPTPA-Ag to improve the fluorescence. Furthermore, the fluorescence microscopy images indicated that IPTPA could detect Ag+ in living cells.

In recent years, conjugated polymers (CPs) and their nanoparticles (CPNs) were widely concerned and applied in many fields due to their outstanding advantages such as higher absorption coefficients, good photostability, low toxicity and good biocompatibility. However, most reports were focused on their applications, and rare attentions were given on the synthesis of CPs and the effect factors of CPNs’ morphology and properties. In this work, four CPs (P1, P2, P3, P4) with different length side chains were synthetized by Wittig–Horner reaction and further used to prepare CPNs by the nano-precipitation method. The CPs and CPNs were characterized and analyzed by Hydrogen Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H NMR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The absorbance and fluorescence emission spectra of CPs in tetrahydrofuran (THF) and CPNs solutions with different length side chains were investigated, and their quantum yields (Фs) were calculated by the reference method. The results showed that the synthetic CPs have narrow polydispersity index. Some interesting phenomenon appeared with the increased side chain length. The molecular weights will reduce except P3, and the absorbance and fluorescence emission spectra of CPs and CPNs are red-shifted. Фs are better and enlarged for CPs and CPNs, and better dispersion and uniform size were founded with longer side chains.

Toxoplasma gondii has a complex life cycle and pathogenic mechanisms. Acute T. gondii infections in mice often result in death, whereas in chronic infections, the parasites may persist in the host tissues as intraneuronal or intramuscular cysts. However, the virulence of T. gondii strains in mice varies with its genetic background. The present study investigated the pathogenicity and pathological lesions of two T. gondii isolates from China: namely, TgCatCHn2 (ToxoDB#17) and TgCatCHn4 (ToxoDB#9). The virulent (ToxoDB#216) and avirulent (VEG) strains were employed as controls. Toxoplasmosis was induced by inoculating BALB/c mice with oocysts of the strains of T. gondii VEG, ToxoDB#216, TgCatCHn2 (ToxoDB#17), and TgCatCHn4 (ToxoDB#9), respectively. As a result, one oocyst of ToxoDB#216 could kill a mouse within 10 days post inoculation (DPI). The survival time of the mice for T. gondii TgCatCHn2 and TgCatCHn4 was >60 DPI for 106/mL oocysts, but this concentration (106/mL oocysts) of VEG strain could kill mice within 11 DPI. Compared with the strains of T. gondii ToxoDB#216 and VEG, the lesions in the small intestines of the strains of TgCatCHn2- and TgCatCHn4-infected mice were significantly smaller (P 0.05). However, the granules in the PCs showed negative lysozyme expression in the intestines of mice infected with T. gondii TgCatCHn2 and TgCatCHn4. Thus, T. gondii strains of TgCatCHn2 (ToxoDB#17) and TgCatCHn4 (ToxoDB#9) were avirulent strains, they triggered an inhibition of lysozyme expression in the granules of PCs of the mouse intestine. These effects may in turn lead to intestinal dysbiosis, which may be related to further parasitic invasion of the intestines. The findings of the present study further expand the spectrum of the pathogenic features of various Chinese isolates of T. gondii.

The felids are the only definitive hosts of Toxoplasma gondii, which could excrete oocysts into the environment and provide an infection source for toxoplasmosis in various warm-blooded animal species, particularly the captive felids that live close to human communities. The infection rate of the captive felids is a perfect standard in detecting the presence of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts in the environment. In this study, sera or tissue samples from zoo (1 young tiger, 2 adult tigers, 6 young lions), farm (10 masked palm civets), and pet hospital (28 cats) from Henan Province (China) were collected. The sera (n = 47) were tested for immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against T. gondii by using modified agglutination test (MAT), whereas the hearts tissue (n = 40) were bioassayed in mice to isolate T. gondii strains. The genotype was distinguished by using PCR-RFLP of 10 loci (SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, GRA6, BTUB, L358, c22-8, PK1, c29-2, and Apico). The detection rate for the T. gondii antibody in captive felids was 21.3% (10/47). One viable T. gondii strain (TgCatCHn4) was obtained from a cat heart tissue, and its genotype was ToxoDB#9. The oocysts of ToxoDB#9 were collected from a T. gondii-free cat. The virulence of TgCatCHn4 was low and no cysts were detected in the brain of mice at 60 days post-inoculation. The finding of the present study suggested a widespread exposure of T. gondii for felids in Henan Province of central China, particularly those from the zoological gardens and homes. ToxoDB#9 was the predominant strain in China. Preventive measures against T. gondii oocyst contamination of various components of the environment should thus be implemented, including providing pre-frozen meat, well-cooked cat food, cleaned fruits and vegetables, monitoring birds and rodents, inactive T. gondii oocysts in felids feces, and proper hygiene.