The <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> oocyst and sporocyst walls are autofluorescent under UV excitation.

Abstract

<p>A. Epifluorescent and bright field images of intact, mature oocysts 10 days after exposure to maturing conditions showing intact oocysts (“oocyst”), isolated sporocysts (“sporocyst”), and isolated oocyst walls (“wall”), the latter two fractions being derived from mature oocysts by glass bead disruption and gradient centrifugation as detailed in the <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0029955#s4" target="_blank">materials and methods</a>. B. A detailed schematic of the oocyst components illustrating the absence of the outer layer of the oocyst wall (ow) following treatment with bleach. The inner layer of the wall (iw) and sporocyst walls (Spw) remain intact following bleach treatment. The mature oocyst contains two sporocysts, each with 4 sporozoites (spz).</p