Publications by authors named "I Gual"

Protozoan parasite Neospora caninum causes abortion in infected cattle while others remain asymptomatic. Host immunity plays a critical role in the outcome of bovine neosporosis. Despite extensive research, there is a critical gap in therapeutic and preventive measures, and no effective vaccines are available.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The aim of this longitudinal study was to characterize the parasitemia of and the associated immunological parameters in naturally infected beef cows for 10 months. The following groups were established: seropositive pregnant cows (+Preg, = 7), seropositive non-pregnant cows (+Npreg, = 7), seronegative pregnant cows (-Preg, = 4), and seronegative non-pregnant cows (-Npreg, = 4). Several samples were obtained for absolute and relative leukocyte counting, cytokines IL-10, IL-12, α-TNF, and γ-IFN quantification, specific IgG, IgG1, and IgG2 and avidity and DNA molecular detection and quantification.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The objective of this work was to determine the seroprevalence of Neospora caninum in cattle in Valle de Lerma, province of Salta, Argentina, and the risk factors associated with the disease. Serum samples were taken from 40 cows in each dairy herd, which were analyzed by indirect ELISA to detect antibodies against N. caninum.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Neospora caninum is an important abortifacient agent affecting mainly cattle worldwide. The aim of the present work was to describe the histopathological findings in a naturally infected beef cow and its midterm fetus caused by a genetically defined N. caninum isolate in Argentina.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) has been used in human and veterinary medicine as a skin testing for evaluating in vivo cell-mediated immune responses (CMIR). Whereas CMIR is a key process to control intracellular pathogens, its value at identifying cattle exposed to the abortigenic intracellular coccidian parasite Neospora caninum is unknown. In this work, we have evaluated a DTH skin testing in cattle exposed to N.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF