Seronegativity of Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica) against Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum is consistent with eco-epidemiological and environmental features in Mediterranean mountainous areas.

Knowledge of pathogen epidemiological dynamics and habitat ecological features is essential for wildlife population and health monitoring and management. Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are two broadly distributed multi-host parasites that affect both wild and domestic animals and, in the case of T. gondii, cause zoonosis.

Transcriptional changes associated with apoptosis and type I IFN underlie the early interaction between Besnoitia besnoiti tachyzoites and monocyte-derived macrophages.

Besnoitia besnoiti-infected bulls may develop severe systemic clinical signs and orchitis that may ultimately cause sterility during the acute infection. Macrophages might play a relevant role in pathogenesis of the disease and the immune response raised against B. besnoiti infection.

Archetypal type II and III oocysts induce different immune responses and clinical outcomes in experimentally infected piglets.

Livestock animals, such as swine, are an important source of in the human population. Currently, there is limited knowledge regarding the potential influence that the genotype might exert on establishing infection in swine. Herein, we investigated the role of 2 isolates, type II and III, representative of the genotypes circulating in Europe, in the immune responses and infection dynamics in piglets.

Absence of anti-Besnoitia spp. specific antibodies in European wild lagomorphs from the Iberian Peninsula.

Besnoitia besnoiti is an apicomplexan parasite whose life cycle is not completely understood. It is assumed that this parasite might have an indirect life cycle with a carnivore as a definitive host able to shed oocysts after the ingestion of mature cysts in tissues of an infected intermediate host. Cattle and wild cervids on the Iberian Peninsula can act as intermediate hosts of B.

Detection of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in sheep's full-cream milk by a time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay.

Ovine neosporosis, caused by the Apicomplexan parasite Neospora caninum, leads to reproductive failure worldwide. Nowadays, there is a trend to develop diagnostic techniques using non-invasive samples, such as milk, in order to reduce animal stress, sample collection effort, and costs. The objective of this study was to develop and validate a highly sensitive and specific serological technique, based on a time resolved-fluorescence immunoassay using a N.

SARS-CoV-2 Infection in One Cat and Three Dogs Living in COVID-19-Positive Households in Madrid, Spain.

In this study, we describe SARS-CoV-2 infection dynamics in one cat and three dogs from households with confirmed human cases of COVID-19 living in the Madrid Community (Spain) at the time of expansion (December 2020 through June 2021) of the alpha variant (lineage B.1.1.

Identification of molecular biomarkers associated with disease progression in the testis of bulls infected with Besnoitia besnoiti.

Breeding bulls infected with Besnoitia besnoiti may develop sterility during either acute or chronic infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular pathogenesis of B. besnoiti infection with prognosis value in bull sterility.

Besnoitiosis in donkeys: an emerging parasitic disease of equids in Italy.

Besnoitiosis is an emerging parasitic disease of equids. Italy is one of the few European countries where the circulation of Besnoitia spp. antibodies was demonstrated.

Vascular wall injury and inflammation are key pathogenic mechanisms responsible for early testicular degeneration during acute besnoitiosis in bulls.

Background: Bovine besnoitiosis, caused by the apicomplexan parasite Besnoitia besnoiti, is a chronic and debilitating cattle disease that notably impairs fertility. Acutely infected bulls may develop respiratory signs and orchitis, and sterility has been reported in chronic infections. However, the pathogenesis of acute disease and its impact on reproductive function remain unknown.

Added value of IgM detection and low avidity index as markers of acute bovine besnoitiosis.

Early in vivo diagnosis of bovine besnoitiosis is crucial for the success of control programmes. However, diagnosis in acutely infected animals is hindered by the low sensitivity of the available serological tools. In this study, a novel ELISA to detect specific anti-Besnoitia besnoiti IgM antibodies was developed.

Lytic cycle of Besnoitia besnoiti tachyzoites displays similar features in primary bovine endothelial cells and fibroblasts.

Background: Bovine besnoitiosis, caused by the cyst-forming apicomplexan parasite Besnoitia besnoiti, is a chronic and debilitating cattle disease that continues to spread in Europe in the absence of control tools. In this scenario, in vitro culture systems are valuable tools to carry out drug screenings and to unravel host-parasite interactions. However, studies performed in bovine target cells are scarce.

Effect of parasite dose and host age on the infection with Besnoitia besnoiti tachyzoites in cattle.

Bovine besnoitiosis is continuing to spread in Europe. Therefore, the development of ruminant animal models of infection is urgently needed to evaluate therapeutic and prophylactic tools. Herein, we studied the effect of parasite dose and host age on the infection dynamics with Besnoitia besnoiti tachyzoites in cattle in two independent experimental infections.

First detection of anti-Besnoitia spp. specific antibodies in horses and donkeys in Italy.

Among Apicomplexa protozoa infecting equids, Besnoitia spp., Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora spp. represent important issues from a sanitary and zootechnical viewpoint.