Activation of the innate immune system in murine congenital Toxoplasma encephalitis.

A murine model of congenital Toxoplasma encephalitis (CTE) was established in NMRI mice following prenatal infection with a low dose of Toxoplasma gondii (DX strain). Histopathologically, the disease exhibited the key features of human CTE including foci of necrosis, intracerebral calcifications, and ventriculitis. The inflammatory response in the brain of infected animals was predominantly mediated by macrophages and granulocytes with additional participation of astrocytes. These findings indicate that the prenatal Toxoplasma infection closely parallels human CTE, but differs significantly from adult toxoplasmosis.