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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #211241
Title: NEOSPORA CANINUM AND TOXOPLASMA GONDII ANTIBODIES IN DOGS FROM DURANGO CITY, MEXICO

Author
item Dubey, Jitender
item ALVARADO-ESQUIVEL, C - DGO MEXICO
item LIESENFELD, O - BERLIN GERMANY
item HERRERA-FLORES, R - DGO MEXICO
item RAMIREZ-SANCHEZ, B - DGO MEXICO
item GONZALEZ-HERRERA, A - DGO MEXICO
item MARTINEZ-GARCIA, S - DGO MEXICO
item BANDINI, L - USDA ARS ANRI APDL
item Kwok, Oliver

Submitted to: Journal of Parasitology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/22/2007
Publication Date: 12/5/2007
Citation: Dubey, J.P., Alvarado-Esquivel, C., Liesenfeld, O., Herrera-Flores, R.G., Ramirez-Sanchez, B.E., Gonzalez-Herrera, A., Martinez-Garcia, S.A., Bandini, L.A., Kwok, O.C. 2007. Neospora caninum and toxoplasma gondii antibodies in dogs from Durango City, Mexico. Journal of Parasitology. 93:1033-1035.

Interpretive Summary: Toxoplasma gondii is a single-celled parasite of all warm-blooded hosts worldwide. It causes mental retardation and loss of vision in children, and abortion in livestock. Cats are the main reservoir of T. gondii because they are the only hosts that can excrete the resistant stage (oocyst) of the parasite in the feces. Humans become infected by eating undercooked meat from infected animals and food and water contaminated with oocysts. Scientists at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center and a Univ. in Mexico report prevalence of T. gondii infection in dogs from mexico for the first time. The results will be of interest to biologists, parasitologists, and veterinarians

Technical Abstract: Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are structurally similar parasites with many common hosts.he prevalence of antibodies to T. gondii and N. caninum was determined in sera from dogs from Durango City, Mexico. Using a modified agglutination test, antibodies to T. gondii were found in 52 (51.5%) of the 101 dogs with titers of 1:25 in 27, 1:50 in 11, 1: 100 in 5, 1:200 in 4, 1:400 in 2, 1:800 in 2, and 1:3,200 or higher in 1. Antibodies to N. caninum were determined by the indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and the Neospora sp. agglutination test (NAT). Two of the 101 dogs had N. caninum antibodies; these dogs did not have T. gondii antibodies, supporting the specificity of the tests used. The N. caninum antibody titers of the 2 dogs were: 1:400 by IFAT and 1:200 by NAT in 1, and 1:25 by NAT and IFAT in the other. Results indicate that these 2 structurally similar protozoans are antigenically and biologically different.