Vaccination against congenital toxoplasmosis.

Different types of Toxoplasma gondii vaccines were evaluated using parasitological and histopathological means to induce immunity in Swiss pregnant mice and their pups against the challenge with virulent RH strain. Immunization was performed before mating by using live cyst vaccines (LCV), LCV-IL-2 combination, irradiated cyst vaccine (ICV) and ICV-IL-2 combination. It was demonstrated that pre-immunization with the current vaccines offered significant protection of both dams and pups. The highest level of protection was noticed in mice which received LCV-IL-2, followed by ICV-IL-2, then LCV and the least protection was elicited in dams immunized with ICV alone. The results threw light on the possibility of applying such vaccines not only in mice but also in other mammalian hosts including human.