Low Tenacity of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> Tachyzoites In Vitro

<i>Toxoplasma gondii</i>, an obligate intracellular protozoan, poses significant risks to public health due to its widespread distribution and potential for severe congenital and neurological complications. The fast-replicating tachyzoite stage is crucial for acute infection and laborato...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Thomas Grochow, Mirjam Kalusa, Pauline Tonndorf-Martini, Nicole Röhrmann, Simone A. Fietz, Lea-Christina Murnik
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Microorganisms
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/7/1517
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849409450346020864
author Thomas Grochow
Mirjam Kalusa
Pauline Tonndorf-Martini
Nicole Röhrmann
Simone A. Fietz
Lea-Christina Murnik
author_facet Thomas Grochow
Mirjam Kalusa
Pauline Tonndorf-Martini
Nicole Röhrmann
Simone A. Fietz
Lea-Christina Murnik
author_sort Thomas Grochow
collection DOAJ
description <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i>, an obligate intracellular protozoan, poses significant risks to public health due to its widespread distribution and potential for severe congenital and neurological complications. The fast-replicating tachyzoite stage is crucial for acute infection and laboratory studies, yet effective inactivation methods remain inadequately explored. This study evaluates various chemical and physical approaches to inactivate <i>T. gondii</i> tachyzoites in vitro. Using a combination of GFP fluorescence and viability assays, we demonstrated the complete inactivation of tachyzoites with ethanol (≥30%), hydrogen peroxide (≥3%), o-hydroxydiphenyl fatty acid eutectic with peracetic acid (≥1%), and heat treatment at 60 °C for 30 min. Our findings highlight the importance of concentration, solvent choice, and exposure time in disinfection efficacy, providing a framework for improving laboratory safety protocols. These results contribute to the refinement of inactivation strategies, supporting safer handling and research on <i>T. gondii</i> in vitro while reducing reliance on animal models.
format Article
id doaj-art-b4c7a7ee7a3643e09640446d112cd7a4
institution Kabale University
issn 2076-2607
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Microorganisms
spelling doaj-art-b4c7a7ee7a3643e09640446d112cd7a42025-08-20T03:35:28ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072025-06-01137151710.3390/microorganisms13071517Low Tenacity of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> Tachyzoites In VitroThomas Grochow0Mirjam Kalusa1Pauline Tonndorf-Martini2Nicole Röhrmann3Simone A. Fietz4Lea-Christina Murnik5Institute of Veterinary Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, GermanyInstitute of Veterinary Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, GermanyInstitute of Veterinary Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, GermanyInstitute of Veterinary Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, GermanyInstitute of Veterinary Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, GermanyInstitute of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany<i>Toxoplasma gondii</i>, an obligate intracellular protozoan, poses significant risks to public health due to its widespread distribution and potential for severe congenital and neurological complications. The fast-replicating tachyzoite stage is crucial for acute infection and laboratory studies, yet effective inactivation methods remain inadequately explored. This study evaluates various chemical and physical approaches to inactivate <i>T. gondii</i> tachyzoites in vitro. Using a combination of GFP fluorescence and viability assays, we demonstrated the complete inactivation of tachyzoites with ethanol (≥30%), hydrogen peroxide (≥3%), o-hydroxydiphenyl fatty acid eutectic with peracetic acid (≥1%), and heat treatment at 60 °C for 30 min. Our findings highlight the importance of concentration, solvent choice, and exposure time in disinfection efficacy, providing a framework for improving laboratory safety protocols. These results contribute to the refinement of inactivation strategies, supporting safer handling and research on <i>T. gondii</i> in vitro while reducing reliance on animal models.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/7/1517<i>Toxoplasma gondii</i>in vitrocell culturetenacitytachyzoitesdisinfection
spellingShingle Thomas Grochow
Mirjam Kalusa
Pauline Tonndorf-Martini
Nicole Röhrmann
Simone A. Fietz
Lea-Christina Murnik
Low Tenacity of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> Tachyzoites In Vitro
Microorganisms
<i>Toxoplasma gondii</i>
in vitro
cell culture
tenacity
tachyzoites
disinfection
title Low Tenacity of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> Tachyzoites In Vitro
title_full Low Tenacity of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> Tachyzoites In Vitro
title_fullStr Low Tenacity of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> Tachyzoites In Vitro
title_full_unstemmed Low Tenacity of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> Tachyzoites In Vitro
title_short Low Tenacity of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> Tachyzoites In Vitro
title_sort low tenacity of i toxoplasma gondii i tachyzoites in vitro
topic <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i>
in vitro
cell culture
tenacity
tachyzoites
disinfection
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/7/1517
work_keys_str_mv AT thomasgrochow lowtenacityofitoxoplasmagondiiitachyzoitesinvitro
AT mirjamkalusa lowtenacityofitoxoplasmagondiiitachyzoitesinvitro
AT paulinetonndorfmartini lowtenacityofitoxoplasmagondiiitachyzoitesinvitro
AT nicolerohrmann lowtenacityofitoxoplasmagondiiitachyzoitesinvitro
AT simoneafietz lowtenacityofitoxoplasmagondiiitachyzoitesinvitro
AT leachristinamurnik lowtenacityofitoxoplasmagondiiitachyzoitesinvitro