Background: TOXOPLASMA GONDII is an obligate intracellular parasite in humans and many warm-blooded animals worldwide. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the diff, erent antiparasitic eff, ects of tellurium oxide (TeO2) nanoparticles against T. GONDII. Methods: In this study, we used tachyzoite assay (ocular counting test) to determine the lethal eff, ect of tellurium nanoparticles on parasites. Toxic eff, ects of nanoparticles on macrophages were also evaluated using MTT assay. The type of parasitic cell death (necrosis or apoptosis) was determined by fl, ow cytometric analysis. Results: According to the examination of the parasites by light microscopy, TeO2 nanoparticles had destructive and lethal eff, ects on T. GONDII. The results of the MTT assay showed that the toxic eff, ects on macrophages were more signifi, cant at high concentrations (400 , g/mL). Flow cytometric analysis also estimated the percentage of apoptosis (primary and secondary) of the parasites at 56. 97%. Conclusions: According to the fi, ndings, tellurium Oxide nanoparticles have a toxic eff, ect on T. GONDII and lead to apoptosis in this parasite. This research boosts diff, erent tests in another parasite.

The determination of TOXOPLASMA GONDII prevalence in a variety of domestic birds is thought as a good indicator of distribution of T.GONDII ooccyts in the environment. To verify the potential role of domestic birds in circulating toxoplasmosis in Iran, the present study was conducted in Mazandaran Provinces, northern Iran. Latex agglutination test (LA) antibodies were found in 25 of 58 free-ranging chickens (Gallus domesticus) and ducks (Anas sp.). Also, viable T. GONDII was isolated from 7 of 25 seropositive chickens and ducks by bioassay of their brains and hearts into mice. Most of the isolated strains were avirulant to mice. Genotyping of T.GONDII isolates using Multiplex PCR for 5 microsatellite markers indicated that 7 isolates were type III. In this study type II and III isolates and mixed genotypes were not found. This study showed that domestic birds could have a potential role in transmitting toxoplasmosis to humans in Iran.

TOXOPLASMA GONDII (T.GONDII) is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite that can infect a wide range of hosts including humans. Humans are infected through raw or undercooked meat containing tissue cysts and ingesting oocysts through contaminated food, water supplies and gardening. Infection with T. GONDII is characterized by acute and chronic phases, which are distinct with regards to the developmental stage of the parasite and the sites of parasite persistence (1). However, TOXOPLASMA infection is mostly asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals but it may be life threatening in immunocompromised cases (2). There is some evidence that chronic renal failure patients undergoing hemodialysis are susceptible to acquire various infections (3). This study aimed to illustrate the clinical manifestations of toxoplasmosis in haemodialysis patients and seroconversion rates of T. GONDII.