Ultrastructural immunocytochemistry of the intact tissue cyst of Toxoplasma in the brains of mice with congenital toxoplasmosis.

Electron immunocytochemistry, using rabbit polyclonal anti-Toxoplasma IgG as the primary layer in immunogold staining, was used to assess the distribution of Toxoplasma antigen within, and in relation to, intact tissue cysts in brain tissue from mice with congenital toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasma antigen was widely distributed in the matrix of the cyst, being most concentrated in the proximity of the inner surface of the parasitophorous vacuole membrane (PVM). Relatively little Toxoplasma antigen was detected directly associated with cystozoites. Small amounts of antigen were detected within the host cell components exterior to the PVM and in the host neuropil immediately adjacent to the tissue cyst.