The resistance to Toxoplasma gondii in Microtus fortis is associated with the activation of the complement lectin pathway

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an intracellular parasite that infects nearly all warm-blooded animals, including humans. The susceptibility to T. gondii infection varies among hosts. In this study, we found that Microtus fortis (M. fortis) exhibited a naturally high level of resistance to the T. gondii RH strain, as evidenced by survival assays. We further observed that M. fortis activated the complement system via the lectin pathway to lyse T. gondii tachyzoites, whereas serum from Kunming (KM) mice showed no such effect. Furthermore, the ability of M. fortis to clear T. gondii tachyzoites was significantly impaired when the complement system was inhibited by cobra venom factor (CVF). These findings indicate that M. fortis exhibits a naturally high resistance to T. gondii. This resistance is mediated, in part, by the complement system, which is activated through the lectin pathway and directly lyses extracellular tachyzoites. Thus, the complement system plays an essential role in controlling T. gondii infection in this species.