The severe virulence of Toxoplasma gondii in classical laboratory inbred mouse strains
contradicts the hypothesis that house mice (Mus musculus) are the most important
intermediate hosts for its transmission and evolution because death of the mouse before
parasite transmission equals death of the parasite. However, the classical laboratory inbred
mouse strains (Mus musculus domesticus), commonly used to test Toxoplasma strain
differences in virulence, do not capture the genetic diversity within Mus musculus. Thus, it is …