Abstract:Aim The efficacy of dihydroartemisinine on murine model of acute toxoplasmosis was evaluated by using PCR techniques in our experiment Methods Eight hours after they were challenged intraperitoneally with 2×10 3 RH strain tachyzoites of T gondii,mice were treated with dihydroartemisinine alone(75mg/kg d)or combined with sulfadiazine(100mg/kg d)for 15 days and every 12 hours the drugs were fed the mice Then mice were killed at 9,15,31 days after infection,the peritoneal fluid,livers,spleens and brains were taken out for PCR analysis of DNA of T gondii;brain was taken out from the survival mouse for detecting DNA of T gondii after the treatment was ended for 5 months Results Dihydroartemisinine in combination with sulfadiazine protected 93% mice against death There was significant difference between the survival rate of combination regimens and that of sulfadiazine alone(P<0 05);so did the survival rate between the combination regimens and dihydroartemisinine alone(P<0 01) The PCR results indicated the DNA of T gondii was detected in peritoneal fluid of mice in all other groups except the dihydroartemisinine combined with sulfadiazine group,and PCR were positive in livers and brains of mice in control group and dihydroartemisnine group,but PCR was positive only in spleen of mouse in control group Conclusion The results of PCR detection accord with the survival rate and observation results of T gondii in peritoneal fluids under microscopy,and this makes compensation for the deficiency of observation with naked eyes;the results of PCR detections in livers,spleens and brains are in accordance with the survival rate;this PCR method basically reflects the effects of these drugs on infected mice objectively,provides a more sensitive,specific and convenient method for assessing the effects of drug on experimental toxoplamosis