Vertical transmission of Neospora caninum in dogs.
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.
Cole
R A
RA
Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Alabama 36849, USA.
Lindsay
D S
DS
Blagburn
B L
BL
Sorjonen
D C
DC
Dubey
J P
JP
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
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan