Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with Neospora caninum infection in different dog populations in Spain.

In this study, Neospora caninum seroprevalence and some associated risk factors were investigated in four different dog populations in Spain. N. caninum seropositivity was significantly higher in farm dogs (51%, 51/100) (P<0.

Evaluation of Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii infections in alpaca (Vicugna pacos) and llama (Lama glama) aborted foetuses from Peru.

The aim of this study was to investigate the participation of Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii in abortion cases of Peruvian llamas and alpacas. Fifteen aborted foetuses were recovered from two main rearing areas of camelids in Peru (Central or South Andean region). Foetal histopathology was used to detect the presence of protozoal-associated lesions in target organs.

Epidemiology and control of neosporosis and Neospora caninum.

Neospora caninum is a protozoan parasite of animals. Until 1988, it was misidentified as Toxoplasma gondii. Since its first recognition in dogs in 1984 and the description of the new genus and species Neospora caninum in 1988, neosporosis has emerged as a serious disease of cattle and dogs worldwide.

Molecular characterisation of BSR4, a novel bradyzoite-specific gene from Neospora caninum.

Here we present the identification and cloning of the NcBSR4 gene, the putative Neospora caninum orthologue to the Toxoplasma gondii TgBSR4 gene. To isolate NcBSR4, genome walking PCR was performed on N. caninum genomic DNA using the expressed sequence tag NcEST3c28h02.

Experimental neosporosis in bulls: parasite detection in semen and blood and specific antibody and interferon-gamma responses.

Aim: To investigate the presence of Neospora caninum in semen and blood, and the development of specific antibody and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) responses in experimentally infected bulls.

Methods: Eight bulls were intravenously infected with 10(8) live N. caninum tachyzoites of NC-1 isolate.

Comparative effect of Neospora caninum infection in BALB/c mice at three different gestation periods.

Neospora caninum has been recognized as a major cause of infectious bovine abortion worldwide. In the present study, the effect of N. caninum infection in mice at the 3 gestation periods (first, second, and third period) was investigated.

Intrauterine Neospora caninum inoculation of heifers and cows using contaminated semen with different numbers of tachyzoites.

Objective: To investigate the potential of different Neospora caninum tachyzoite doses to infect heifers (experiment 1) and cows (experiment 2) when administered in utero by artificial insemination via contaminated semen.

Methods: In experiment 1, five groups of 5, 7, 8, 9, and 5 cyclic heifers were hormonally synchronized and artificially inseminated with semen containing 0 (A, controls), 10(2) (B), 5 x 10(3) (C), 5 x 10(4) (D), and 5 x 10(5) (E) live N. caninum NC-1 isolate-tachyzoites, respectively.

Anthelmintic and nutritional effects of heather supplementation on Cashmere goats grazing perennial ryegrass-white clover pastures.

To investigate anthelmintic and nutritional effects of heather supplementation in goats grazing perennial ryegrass-white clover pastures, 40 dry Cashmere goats were randomly assigned to 4 treatments in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement: 2 grazing management treatments (supplementation with heather vs. nonsupplementation) and 2 anthelmintic treatments (treatment vs. nontreatment).

Use of an immunodominant P17 antigenic fraction of Neospora caninum in detection of antibody response in cattle.

A Neospora caninum 17 kDa protein fraction (p17) has been described as an immunodominant antigen (IDA) under reducing and non-reducing conditions. The aim of the present study was to investigate the diagnostic utility of p17 in cattle. In order to achieve this, p17 was purified by electroelution from whole N.

The NcGRA7 gene encodes the immunodominant 17 kDa antigen of Neospora caninum.

A Neospora caninum 17-19 kDa antigenic protein fraction (p17) in one-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) is the immunodominant antigen recognized by sera from bovines naturally infected by N. caninum. To identify the proteins making up the p17 fraction, we screened a new N.

[Prevalence of antibodies anti-Neospora caninum in bovines from Anápolis and Goiânia microregions, Goiás, Brazil].

The prevalence of antibodies anti-Neospora caninum in bovines was determined in 21 farms from Anápolis and Goiânia microregions, in Goiás, Brazil. Out of these 11 were dairy farms (Holstein and crossbred Holstein-Zebu), nine had beef cattle (Nelore) and one was for mixed exploitation (Simental). Blood samples were collected from 930 animals, and sera obtained were separated and stored at -20 degrees C.

In vitro metacestodicidal activities of genistein and other isoflavones against Echinococcus multilocularis and Echinococcus granulosus.

Echinococcus multilocularis and Echinococcus granulosus metacestode infections in humans cause alveolar echinococcosis and cystic echinococcosis, respectively, in which metacestode development in visceral organs often results in particular organ failure. Further, cystic hydatidosis in farm animals causes severe economic losses. Although benzimidazole derivatives such as mebendazole and albendazole are being used as therapeutic agents, there is often no complete recovery after treatment.

Comparison of Neospora caninum distribution, parasite loads and lesions between epidemic and endemic bovine abortion cases.

It has been suggested that the abortion herd pattern could influence bovine foetal neosporosis. Here, a comparison of (i) Neospora caninum DNA-detectability by PCR, (ii) N. caninum-associated lesions and (iii) parasite loads in target organs was made between epidemic and endemic abortion cases.

Multilocus microsatellite analysis reveals extensive genetic diversity in Neospora caninum.

Neospora caninum is a world-wide parasite that causes neuromuscular disorders in dogs and bovine abortion. Biological diversity among isolates has been proved in both in vivo and in vitro studies. In contrast, little is known about the genetic diversity of this parasite.

Neospora caninum IgG avidity tests: an interlaboratory comparison.

Avidity tests can be used to discriminate between cattle that are acutely and chronically infected with the intracellular parasite Neospora caninum. The aim of this study was to compare the IgG avidity ELISA tests being used in four European laboratories. A coded panel of 200 bovine sera from well documented naturally and experimentally N.

Temporal distribution and parasite load kinetics in blood and tissues during Neospora caninum infection in mice.

The kinetics of Neospora caninum loads in mice inoculated with NC-Liv or NC-1 isolates were studied. The acute phase was characterized by parasitemia and the detection of parasite DNA in several organs, whereas during the chronic phase, the parasite was detected mainly in the brain. Mice infected with NC-Liv developed clinical signs, showing higher brain parasite burdens than NC-1-infected mice.

Supranational comparison of Neospora caninum seroprevalences in cattle in Germany, The Netherlands, Spain and Sweden.

Herd, within-herd and animal prevalences for Neospora caninum in beef and dairy cattle were compared between four countries. In randomly selected herds from regions of Germany, The Netherlands, Spain and Sweden that were representative for the cattle production of these countries, all animals > or = 2 years were examined serologically by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) with high test specificity (> 98.0%).

Use of avidity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and avidity Western blot to discriminate between acute and chronic Neospora caninum infection in cattle.

Avidity serological tests (avidity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] and avidity Western blot) were developed and used to differentiate between acute (primary infection, reinfection, and recrudescence) and chronic Neospora caninum infection in cattle. In addition, the pattern of immunoglobulin G (IgG) avidity maturation against different specific antigens of N. caninum tachyzoites was studied.

Identification and molecular cloning of the Neospora caninum SAG4 gene specifically expressed at bradyzoite stage.

Here, we identify and clone the NcSAG4 gene, orthologue to the Toxoplasma gondii TgSAG4 gene, and the first reported gene to be expressed specifically during the Neospora caninum bradyzoite stage. To isolate NcSAG4, we designed degenerate oligonucleotides based on the TgSAG4 protein amino acid sequence. A 312-bp DNA fragment was amplified by PCR from N.

Intrauterine Neospora caninum inoculation of heifers.

Here, we studied the potential of Neospora caninum tachyzoites to infect heifers when administered in utero by artificial insemination via contaminated semen. Eighteen primiparous cyclic heifers were hormonally synchronized and artificially inseminated. Nine of them, which were inseminated with semen containing 10(7) live N.

Adaptation of Neospora caninum isolates to cell-culture changes: an argument in favor of its clonal population structure.

Neospora caninum, a recently recognized protozoan parasite of animals, is considered to be a major cause of bovine abortion worldwide. Although its life cycle is not completely known, recent studies suggest that the sexual stage occurs in dogs. The prevalence of sexual reproduction in N.

Influence of the stage of pregnancy on Neospora caninum distribution, parasite loads and lesions in aborted bovine foetuses.

In the present work we have studied in Neospra caninum aborted bovine foetuses the influence of foetal age (first, second and third gestational periods) on parasite distribution by nested PCR, parasite loads by real-time PCR and N. caninum associated lesions. For this purpose, a total of 220 aborted foetuses were analysed and detection of N.

Toxoplasma gondii infection in adult llamas (Lama glama) and vicunas (Vicugnavicugna) in the Peruvian Andean region.

The present study was designed to investigate Toxoplasma gondii infection in adult llamas (Lama glama) and vicunas (Vicugna vicugna) in the Peruvian Andean region, for which to date no information has been available. Serum samples from 43 llamas (L. glama) and 200 vicunas were tested by IFAT detecting titres of 1:50 or higher in 55.

Detection of Neospora caninum in the semen and blood of naturally infected bulls.

A prospective study was designed to investigate the presence of Neospora caninum in semen and blood of eight bulls seropositive to N. caninum using nested-PCR procedures. Positive semen and blood samples were bioassayed in a BALB/c nu/nu mouse model.