The presence of Toxoplasma gondii DNA was detected in sera of acutely infec
ted mice by polymerase chain reaction. Adult mice were inoculated intraperi
toneally with 5 x 10(3) T. gondii RH strain tachyzoites. Five mice were kil
led every 3 hr from 3 to 21 hr post infection (PI) and every day from 1 to
7 days PI. Toxoplasma gondii DNA was first detected in 60% of the infected
mice 18 hr PI and in 100% of the animals 21 hr PI and from 1 to 7 days PI.
No mice survived longer than 7 days.