Early recognized antigen (p34) of Toxoplasma gondii after peroral ingestion of tissue cyst forming strain (Me49 strain) in mice.

Serum from mouse orally ingested with tissue cyst forming strain (Me49) of Toxoplasma gondii was assayed by Western blot and immunofluorescene assay (IFA) to establish early responses in antigenicity of the parasite in mouse model of foodborne toxoplasmosis. Sera were collected weekly to blot the RH antigen transferred onto nitrocellulose paper after being separated by 12% SDS-PAGE. With the second week serum, 34 kDa protein (p34) was detected uniquely, and all antigens of T. gondii were detected with the sera from 3 or 4 weeks. p34 was not a member of the major surface membrane proteins and confirmed to be localized in the rhoptry by IFA. It was secreted into parasitophorous vacuolar membrane (PVM) during the entry into host cells. When applied to the human sera of which the ELISA absorbance was in negative range, 10.3% of sera detected p34, while all the ELISA positive sera detected the band. It has diagnostic usefulness of presumed T. gondii infection. We suggest the name of the p34 protein as ROP9.