Meningo-encephalitis accompanying retinochoroiditis in a murine model of congenital toxoplasmosis.

A histopathological study of the brains of adult mice infected in utero with Toxoplasma gondii and presenting manifestations of ocular toxoplasmosis is reported. All brains contained Toxoplasma tissue cysts. A sub-acute/chronic meningo-encephalitis was the main feature of the inflammatory response in the brain. Microscopical features suggest that autoimmune processes may play a part in the disease. We suggest that our mouse model will provide a simple and inexpensive tool for the investigation of histopathological processes in the CNS resulting from congenital Toxoplasma infection.