Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii was isolated antemortum in human fibroblast cultures (Detroit-532) from buffy coat of peripheral blood, minced tissue, and ascitic fluid of both experimentally infected mice and human patient. Cytopathic changes were evident within 2–3 days in all cases. The subculture and passage of T. gondii in Det-532 cells were found consistently facile and reproducible. Infected cultures could be stored in the frozen state (liquid nitrogen) and reactivated. Using experimental infections of tissue cultured human cells, the effect of sulfadiazine at ranges from 250 mcg/cc-8,000 mcg/ml were evaluated with regards to parasite proliferation, host cell growth and survival. This study provides a new body of knowledge to which the effects of new therapeutic agents could be compared in the assay of their effectiveness. The hospital pharmacy has a deep responsibility to provide the leadership in the determination of the efficacy of new drugs. Studies such as ours are an integral part of this responsibility.
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