title: Vertical transmission of Neospora caninum in dogs.
abstract: Herein we report the development of a canine model to examine transplacental and/or transmammary transmission of Neospora caninum. Six pregnant bitches were experimentally infected with N. caninum on day 21 of gestation. One bitch successfully delivered a litter of 3 live pups. These pups showed slight proprioception deficits, increased muscle tone, and spasticity in both pelvic limbs; however, N. caninum was neither demonstrated by bioassay in cell culture nor seen in histological sections of tissues from these pups. The remaining 5 bitches aborted. Neospora caninum was isolated from tissues of 4 of the experimentally infected bitches and pups from 2 of the miscarried litters. Experimental infections of 2 litters of 5-day-old nursing pups produced variable results. Neospora caninum was isolated from 2 of 2 inoculated pups in 1 litter and 3 of 6 inoculated pups in the second litter.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Alabama 36849, USA.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Lindsay
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Blagburn
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Sorjonen
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Dubey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000151:congenital / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000209:etiology; D005327:Fetal Resorption / Q000209:etiology; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D018688:Neospora / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan