title: Isolation of Neospora caninum from the brain of a naturally infected dog, and production of encysted bradyzoites in gerbils.
abstract: Neospora caninum was isolated from the brain of an adult dog in Brazil. Cerebral tissue from the dog was inoculated into Mongolian gerbils. Gerbils were euthanized 3-4 months later and bradyzoite-containing tissue cysts were observed in their brains. N. caninum (designated NC-Bahia) was isolated in cell culture after inoculation with tissue cysts from the gerbils. The identity of the parasite was confirmed by immunohistochemical examination and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Gerbils may be a useful alternative to immunosuppressed mice for isolation of N. caninum and for production of encysted bradyzoites.
authors.affiliation: Escola de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Av. Ademar de Barros 500, Ondina, CEP 40170-110, Bahia, Salvador, Brazil. pita@ufba.br
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Gondim
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Pinheiro
authors.forename: P O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Jesus
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Freire
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: McAllister
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D001921:Brain / Q000469:parasitology*; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D046508:Culture Techniques / Q000662:veterinary; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D005849:Gerbillinae; D007121:Immunocompetence; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D018688:Neospora / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D016054:DNA, Protozoan