Transplacental transmission of Neospora caninum in naturally infected small ruminants from northeastern Brazil

ABSTRACT: Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are causative agents of abortion in sheep and goats. Thus, the present study aimed to describe the transplacental transmission of these protozoans in small ruminants of northeastern Brazil. Seventeen fetuses (6 goats and 11 sheep) from farms with history of abortion were necropsied and samples were collected from different tissues (brain, liver, lung, kidney and heart). The samples were analyzed by PCR, histopathology (HP) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) to evaluate whether T. gondii and/or N. caninum infection were the cause of abortion. None of the samples was positive for T. gondii according to PCR and IHC results. Some brain, liver, lung, kidney and heart samples of goat fetuses were positive for N. caninum by PCR. In the histopathology, mild mononuclear infiltration and necrosis with calcification were observed in the liver and brain of one goat fetus, respectively, that also was positive for N. caninum by PCR and IHC. The results confirmed vertical transmission of N. caninum in naturally infected goats of northeastern, Brazil.

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Serological survey of Neospora caninum in small ruminants from Pernambuco State, Brazil

Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária ◽

10.1590/s1984-29612011000300013 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 20 (3) ◽

pp. 246-248 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Antonio Amélia Santos Mucalane Tembue ◽

Rafael Antonio de Nascimento Ramos ◽

Thais Rabelo de Sousa ◽

Alessandra Ribeiro Albuquerque ◽

Alvimar José da Costa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Neonatal Mortality ◽

Neospora Caninum ◽

Small Ruminants ◽

Antibody Test ◽

Northeastern Brazil ◽

Serological Survey ◽

Caninum Infection ◽

Bovine Abortion

Neospora caninum infection is an important cause of bovine abortion as well as neonatal mortality in goats and sheep. A serological survey for antibodies against N. caninum in goats and sheep was carried out in the municipality of Ibimirim, PE, Northeastern Brazil. The imunnofluoresce antibody test showed that 26.6% (85/319) of the goats and 64.2% (52/81) of the sheep were positive. Serologic reactivity was associated with age in goats (p < 0.01) and sheep (p > 0.05), with increasing rates in older animals. These results indicate exposure to N. caninum among small ruminants in the study area.

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Spatial Analysis of Infections by Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum (Protozoa: Apicomplexa) in Small Ruminants in Northern Italy

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani9110916 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 916 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Alessia Gazzonis ◽

Luca Villa ◽

MariaTeresa Manfredi ◽

Sergio Zanzani

Keyword(s):

Spatial Analysis ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Neospora Caninum ◽

Significant Risk ◽

Small Ruminants ◽

Northern Italy ◽

Climatic Data ◽

Caninum Infection ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Low Prevalence

The objectives of this study were: (i) To investigate possible geographical or environmental factors influencing the infections by Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in sheep and goats in northern Italy; (ii) to identify areas at risk of infection to set up preventive measures. Forty-three sheep and goat farms were included. Their locations were plotted and associated with T. gondii and N. caninum seroprevalence, then the distribution of farms’ prevalence was evaluated by spatial analysis. Significant clusters for both low and high prevalence were obtained, and a generalized linear model with ordinal logistic regression was implemented to verify if spatial clustering could be due to climate factors (temperature, rainfall, and their interaction). Clusters of high (80.0%) and low prevalence (28.12%) resulted for T. gondii seroprevalence in sheep farms. No significant clusters resulted for goat farms. Clusters of high (38.68%) and low prevalence (21.23%) resulted for N. caninum seroprevalence in sheep farms. One high-prevalence cluster (15.62%) resulted for goat farms. For goats, spatial analysis and analysis on climatic data showed the absence of environmental significant risk factors associated with T. gondii or N. caninum infection. On the contrary, for sheep, annual temperature, rainfall, and their association affected the risk of T. gondii and N. caninum infection. Particularly, high temperatures and abundant rainfalls were related to T. gondii seroprevalence, while low temperatures and scarce rainfalls were related to N. caninum seroprevalence.

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Occurrence of anti-Neospora caninum and anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibodies in goats and sheep in western Maranhão, Brazil

Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária ◽

10.1590/s1984-29612011000400010 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 20 (4) ◽

pp. 312-317 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Larissa Martins de Brito Moraes ◽

Juliana Macedo Raimundo ◽

Andresa Guimarães ◽

Huarrisson Azevedo Santos ◽

Gilberto de Lima Macedo Junior ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Neospora Caninum ◽

Small Ruminants ◽

Immunofluorescence Assay ◽

Northeastern Brazil ◽

Food Supplementation ◽

Igg Antibodies ◽

Etiologic Agents ◽

Western Area ◽

Significant Difference

Neosporosis and toxoplasmosis are parasitic diseases which can cause reproductive problems in goats and sheep. The current study aimed to determine the occurrence of anti-Neospora caninum and anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibodies in goats and sheep from the districts of Amarante do Maranhão and Buritirana, Imperatriz microregion, western area of Maranhão State, northeastern Brazil, and to assess factors associated to infection by these etiologic agents. Blood samples from 110 animals (46 goats and 64 sheep) from five herds were collected, and indirect immunofluorescence assay was used for serological testing. Of 46 goat samples, 17.39% (n = 8) showed anti-N. caninum antibodies and 4.35% (n = 2) anti-T. gondii, while of 64 sheep samples 4.69% (n = 3) and 18.75% (n = 12) showed anti-N. caninum and anti-T. gondii antibodies, respectively. No significant difference regarding the presence of domestic cats and/or dogs on the property and veterinary care was seen for both etiologic agents studied. However, food supplementation and animal reproductive failure were significantly (p < 0.05) for N. caninum among sheep and goats, respectively. The current study showed that goats and sheep in western Maranhão are exposed to N. caninum and T. gondii. It is the first evidence of these agents in small ruminants in this region.

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Treatment of Toxoplasmosis and Neosporosis in Farm Ruminants: State of Knowledge and Future Trends

Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry ◽

10.2174/1568026618666181002113617 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 18 (15) ◽

pp. 1304-1323 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Roberto Sánchez-Sánchez ◽

Patricia Vázquez ◽

Ignacio Ferre ◽

Luis Miguel Ortega-Mora

Keyword(s):

Vaccine Development ◽

Neospora Caninum ◽

Treatment Options ◽

Small Ruminants ◽

Additional Treatment ◽

Current Status ◽

Caninum Infection ◽

Zoonotic Parasites ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii Infection

Toxoplasmosis and neosporosis are closely related protozoan diseases that lead to important economic impacts in farm ruminants. Toxoplasma gondii infection mainly causes reproductive failure in small ruminants and is a widespread zoonosis, whereas Neospora caninum infection is one of the most important causes of abortion in cattle worldwide. Vaccination has been considered the most economic measure for controlling these diseases. However, despite vaccine development efforts, only a liveattenuated T. gondii vaccine has been licensed for veterinary use, and no promising vaccines against neosporosis have been developed; therefore, vaccine development remains a key goal. Additionally, drug therapy could be a valuable strategy for disease control in farm ruminants, as several drugs that limit T. gondii and N. caninum proliferation and dissemination have been evaluated. This approach may also be relevant to performing an initial drug screening for potential human therapy for zoonotic parasites. Treatments can be applied against infections in adult ruminants to minimize the outcomes of a primo-infection or the reactivation of a chronic infection during gestation or in newborn ruminants to avoid infection chronification. In this review, the current status of drug development against toxoplasmosis and neosporosis in farm ruminants is presented, and in an effort to promote additional treatment options, prospective drugs that have shown efficacy in vitro and in laboratory animal models of toxoplasmosis and neosporosis are examined.

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Prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in swine from Northeastern Brazil

Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária ◽

10.4322/rbpv.01902002 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 19 (02) ◽

pp. 80-84 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

S.S. Azevedo ◽

H. F. de Jesus Pena ◽

C. J. Alves ◽

A. A. M. G. Filho ◽

R. M. Oliveira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Neospora Caninum ◽

Northeastern Brazil

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Presence of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum and Leishmania infantum in dogs from Piauí

Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária ◽

10.1590/s1984-29612011000200004 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 20 (2) ◽

pp. 111-114 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Marcos Gomes Lopes ◽

Ivete Lopes Mendonça ◽

Kleber Portela Fortes ◽

Marcos Amaku ◽

Hilda de Fátima Jesus Pena ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Leishmania Infantum ◽

Neospora Caninum ◽

Fluorescent Antibody ◽

Northeastern Brazil ◽

Leishmania Infection ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Chi Square ◽

Leishmania Spp ◽

And Gender

This study aimed to evaluate the presence of antibodies against Neospora caninum, Toxoplasma gondii and Leishmania infantum in dogs attended at the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Piauí, Northeastern Brazil, where there are no reports of the occurrence of N. caninum and T. gondii in dogs. Serum samples from 530 dogs of genders, different ages and breeds from the municipality of Teresina and nearby towns were analyzed using three indirect fluorescent antibody tests, each one targeting one of the three agents. The associations between the parasites and gender, breed and age of the dogs were assessed by the chi-square test (p > 0.05). The occurrence of antibodies to N. caninum, T. gondii and L. infantum was 3.2, 18.0 and 78.1%, respectively. Toxoplasma gondii was more frequently found in older dogs (p < 0.05) whereas L. infantum was more common in animals aged between 1 to 3 years (p < 0.05). In order to evaluate potential associations between the presence of anti-N. caninum and anti-T. gondii antibodies and Leishmania infection, 240 dogs were selected (120 positive and 120 negative for Leishmania spp.), based on serological and parasitological diagnoses. No association was found between Leishmania spp. and the coccidian parasites (p > 0.05). The results confirm the exposure of dogs to these parasites in the State of Piauí.

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Detection of Neospora caninum Infection in Aborted Equine Fetuses in Israel

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens9110962 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 962

Author(s):

Monica Leszkowicz Mazuz ◽

Lea Mimoun ◽

Gili Schvartz ◽

Sharon Tirosh-Levy ◽

Igor Savitzki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Neospora Caninum ◽

Fluorescent Antibody ◽

Fetal Loss ◽

Antibody Test ◽

Transplacental Transmission ◽

Caninum Infection ◽

Parasite Detection ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

Equine Abortion

In horses, Neospora caninum and Neospora hughesi have been associated with fetal loss, and neurological disease, respectively. This study investigated the role of Neospora spp. infection in equine abortion in Israel. The presence of anti-Neospora spp. antibodies was evaluated in 31 aborting mares by indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and the presence of parasite DNA in their aborted fetuses was evaluated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), using two target loci (ITS1 and Nc5). The seroprevalence found in aborting mares was 70.9% and the prevalence by DNA detection in the aborted fetuses was 41.9%. Transplacental transmission from positive mares to their fetuses was 45.4% (10/22), while 33.3% (3/9) of fetuses of seronegative mares also tested positive for Neospora. The use of two PCR targets improved the sensitivity of parasite detection, and positive samples were identified by sequence analyses as N. caninum. These finding suggest that N. caninum could be a significant cause of abortion in horses, and that transplacental transmission in horses is an important way of transmission of N.caninum. The results presented here demonstrated the necessity to use several tests concurrently, including serological and molecular assays in order to confirm the involvement of Neospora in mare abortions.

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Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum infections in synanthropic rodents from Argentina

Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária ◽

10.1590/s1984-29612019009 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 113-118 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Andrea Dellarupe ◽

Bruno Fitte ◽

Lais Pardini ◽

Lucía María Campero ◽

Mariana Bernstein ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Neospora Caninum ◽

Rattus Rattus ◽

Wide Distribution ◽

Type I ◽

Type Ii ◽

Caninum Infection ◽

Coccidian Parasites ◽

Rats And Mice ◽

Synanthropic Rodents

Abstract Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are closely related coccidian parasites (phylum Apicomplexa). This is the first study from urban synanthropic rodent species that involved serological and molecular diagnosis of T. gondii and N. caninum infection, and genotyping of T. gondii in Argentina. A total of 127 rodent samples were trap captured: Mus musculus (n = 78), Rattus norvegicus (n = 26) and Rattus rattus (n = 23). Antibodies against T. gondii and N. caninum were detected by IFAT in 32.8% (40/122) and 0.8% (1/122) of rodent samples, respectively, demonstrating contact with these protozoans. Additionally, T. gondii DNA was detected in 3.3% (4/123) of rodent central nervous system samples and 2 samples were genotyped by multilocus nPCR-RFLP. Neospora caninum DNA was not detected by PCR. The 2 genotyped samples were type III allele for all markers except for SAG-1 (type I for Rat1Arg and type II/III for Rat2Arg) and were identified as #48 and #2 (likely) according to the allele combinations reported on Toxo DB (Toxo-DB). The results of the present study revealed a wide distribution of T. gondii and less for N. caninum, in synanthropic rats and mice in the studied area.

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Endogenous and exogenous transplacental transmission of Neospora caninum – how the route of transmission impacts on epidemiology and control of disease

Parasitology ◽

10.1017/s0031182009990588 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 136 (14) ◽

pp. 1895-1900 ◽

Cited By ~ 69

Author(s):

D. J. L. WILLIAMS ◽

C. S. HARTLEY ◽

C. BJÖRKMAN ◽

A. J. TREES

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Vertical Transmission ◽

Neospora Caninum ◽

Protozoan Parasite ◽

Transplacental Transmission ◽

Highly Efficient ◽

Route Of Transmission ◽

And Control

SUMMARYVertical transmission of the protozoan parasite, Neospora caninum is highly efficient and can take two forms – endogenous transplacental transmission resulting from activation of the quiescent bradyzoite stage during pregnancy or exogenous transplacental transmission resulting from ingestion of oocysts during pregnancy. Calves born carrying infection derived from either endogenous or exogenous transplacental transmission are capable of infecting their offspring when they start to breed. This review considers firstly the frequency with which exogenous and endogenous transmission occur, secondly the role of the immune response in controlling N. caninum infection and thirdly how the parasite persists in an immune-competent host and is re-activated during pregnancy.

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