Neospora Caninum and Neosporosis in Animals a Review
Year: 2006
Type: article
Abstract: The cyst-forming protozoan Neospora caninum, discovered in 1984 in dogs with encephalitis and myositis, is described as a separate species. The biological cycle of N. caninum involves two hosts: definitive and intermediate. Known definitive hosts are dogs and coyotes. As intermediate hosts, cows, sheep, goats, horses and deers are reported. The dog could be both intermediate and definitive host. The life cycle of N. caninum is characterized by 3 infection stages tachyzoites, tissue cysts and oocysts. The transmission routes of N. caninum;re two: horizontal or oral and vertical or transplacen-tal. The definitive hosts shed oocysts that are a potential source of horizontal transmission via in-fected food and water. At the same time, the vertical transmission from infected dams to their off-spring, is also one of the natural routes of infections in cows. Transplacental infection could recur in the same animals. In cows, abortions are the main clinical signs. The cows at various ages could abort from the 3rd months of gestation onward, but abortions by the 5th 6th month are predominant. Two categories of abortions are distinguishes: epidemic, when a higher percentage of cows abort within few weeks and endemic, when abortions occur within months or years. The serological analysis of sera from cows with abortions is indicator of a N. caninum infection. The final diagnosis is made through histological and immunohistological analysis of specimens from foetuses or by detecting N.
Authors: D. Georgieva, P. N. Prelezov, V. Ts. Koinarski
Language: English
Subfield: Parasitology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7095246425