Neospora caninum: a cause of immune-mediated failure of pregnancy?
Resistance to many intracellular protozoan parasites is dependent on T helper cell 1 cytokine responses. This has important repercussions for pregnant females because strong T helper cell 1 cytokine responses are incompatible with successful pregnancy. Thus, there are two possible consequences of infection with protozoans such as Leishmania major, Plasmodium falciparum and Toxoplasma gondii during pregnancy: (1) pregnancy is compromised; or (2) resistance to the parasite is compromised. The apicomplexan Neospora caninum is a parasite renowned for its association with abortion in cattle. Furthermore, a major route of transmission for this parasite is congenital. The evidence for the hypothesis that T helper cell 1 cytokines play a role in these events is reviewed here.
Quinn
Helen E
HE
Dept of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Technology, Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, New South Wales 2007, Australia.
Ellis
John T
JT
Smith
Nicholas C
NC
D000818:Animals; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D018320:Leishmania major; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D018688:Neospora; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D014122:Toxoplasma; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
D016207:Cytokines