Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #32399
Title: NEOSPORA CANINUM IN AN ADULT DOG WITH PROGRESSIVE CEREBELLAR SIGNS

Author
item JACKSON W - CORNELL UNIVERSITY
item DE LAHUNTA A - CORNELL UNIVERSITY
item ADASKA J - CORNELL UNIVERSITY
item COOPER B - CORNELL UNIVERSITY
item DUBEY JITENDER P - 1265-55-00

Submitted to: Journal of the American Medical Association
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/10/1994
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Neospora caninum is a recently recognized protozoan parasite of animals. It can cause paralysis and death in cattle, sheep, goats, and dogs. Its life cycle and source of infections are unknown. Scientists at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center and the Cornell University report neosporosis in a dog with severe atrophy of the hind brain (cerebellum). The dog was unable to stand but otherwise appeared normal. The lesions described should be helpful to clinicians and pathologists in the diagnosis of neosporosis in dogs.

Technical Abstract: Neospora caninum was identified as the cause of a chronic encephalitis with profound atrophy of the cerebellum in an adult dog. Signs of cerebellar ataxia may have started at 14 months of age, and slowly progressed for nearly 2 years before progressing more rapidly. Euthanasia was performed when the dog was 3.5 years of age. Antibodies for Neospora caninum were present in the serum and CSF. The dam and one littermate had no serum antibodies. A second littermate developed ataxia at 4 years of age, had significant antibody titers for Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum, was treated and recovered.