title: Comparative ultrastructure of tachyzoites, bradyzoites, and tissue cysts of Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii.
abstract: The ultrastructure of tachyzoites, bradyzoites and tissue cysts of the NC-1, NC-5 and NC-Liverpool strains of Neospora caninum are reviewed and compared with those of the VEG and ME-49 strains of Toxoplasma gondii. While each stage of N. caninum and T. gondii shared many ultrastructural characteristics, each parasite stage also had certain features or organelles that could be used to distinguish the two parasites. Some of the most prominent ultrastructural differences occurred in the number, appearance and location of rhoptries, looped-back rhoptries, micronemes, dense granules, small dense granules and micropores. The tissue cysts of both parasites were also basically similar, being surrounded by a cyst wall and not compartmentalised by septa. The cyst wall of N. caninum was irregular and substantially thicker, 0.5-4 microm, than those of T. gondii which were smooth and 0.5 microm thick.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Molecular Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman 59717-3610, USA.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Speer
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Dubey
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: McAllister
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Blixt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000469:parasitology; D004285:Dogs; D051379:Mice; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D018688:Neospora / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000469:parasitology*