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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #91433
Title: CANINE NEOSPOROSIS: CLINICAL SIGNS, DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT AND ISOLATION OF NEOSPORA CANINUM IN MICE AND CELL CULTURE

Author
item Dubey, Jitender
item DOROUGH, K - WARN ROBINS AN HOSP, GA
item Jenkins, Mark
item LIDDELL, S - 1265-40-00
item SPEER, C - MONTANA STATE UN, BOZEMAN
item Kwok, Oliver
item Shen, Samuel

Submitted to: International Journal for Parasitology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/18/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Infections by the protozoan (singled celled) parasite, Neospora caninum are widely prevalent in cattle and dogs. It causes abortion and neonatal mortality in cattle and paralysis in dogs. The life cycle and source of post natal infections are unknown. In utero transmission is the only recognized route of transmission. Scientists at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center and Warner Animal Hospital, Georgia, report the isolation of Neospora caninum parasites from 2 littermate dogs. The techniques described for the successful isolation will be useful for veterinarians, parasitologists and pathologists.

Technical Abstract: Clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment and isolation of Neospora caninum from two littermate dogs are described. Three of six pups from a Labrador bitch developed paralysis. Neosporosis was diagnosed antemortem by serologic examination in two of the affected pups. At necropsy, tissue cysts were seen in unstained smears and in histologic sections of their brains. Tissue cysts were often thin-walled ( 1 æm) but antigenically and ultrastructurally identified as N. caninum. Furthermore, N. caninum (isolates NC-4, NC-5) was isolated in mice and in cell cultures inoculated with neural tissues of these two dogs. Serologic diagnosis of neosporosis using a variety of tests is discussed.