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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #32610
Title: MOUSE MODEL FOR CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM NEOSPORA CANINUM INFECTIONS

Author
item LINSAY DAVID S - AUBURN UNIV
item LENZ S D - AUBURN UNIV
item COLE R A - AUBURN UNIV
item Dubey, Jitender
item BLAGBURN B L - AUBURN UNIV

Submitted to: Journal of Parasitology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/6/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Neospora caninum is a recently discovered protozoan parasite. It causes abortion in livestock and deaths in companion animals. Its life cycle and sources of infection are unknown. Life cycle studies are hampered because there is no suitable animal model. Scientists at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center and Auburn University have developed a laboratory mouse model using inbred BALB/C mice. This model should help research on chemotherapy and immunology of neosporosis.

Technical Abstract: Neospora caninum is a protozoan parasite that causes severe disease in transplacentally infected dogs and abortions in domestic ruminants. Rodent models of neosporosis rely on treatment of hosts with methylprednisolone acetate (MPA) to enhance infections. The present study reports the development of an inbred BALB/C mouse model that results in central nervous system neosporosis in the absence of MPA treatment. Seven of 12 BALB/c mice died 26 to 70 days after subcutaneous (s.c.) inoculation with tachyzoites of the NC-1 strain of N. caninum and none of 12 BALB/c mice died after s.c. inoculation with tachyzoites of the NC-3 strain. None of 8 HSD:ICR mice (4 mice, NC-1 strain; 4 mice, NC-3 strain) developed clinical neosporosis or died after s.c. inoculation with tachyzoites. Control BALB/c (2 mice) and HSD:ICR (2 mice) mice s.c. inoculated with Hanks' balanced salt solution did not develop clinical signs of disease. Some mice in all N. caninum inoculated groups had brain lesions, but significantly (less than or equal to 0.05) more BALB/c mice inoculated with the NC-1 strain had brain lesions.