Diagram, Toxoplasma gondii
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Brain, immunoperoxidase stain for Toxoplasma gondii. This immunoperoxidase stained preparation shows an intact Toxoplasma tissue cyst (right), and one in the process of rupturing (left). The bradyzoites within the cyst, once released, will either begin to proliferate rapidly (tachyzoites), or will be destroyed by an immune response, if the patient is immunocompetent. In this case, an HIV infected individual, the proliferation continued unabated, and caused the death of the patient via brain edema and subsequent herniation.