title: Survival, immune responses and tissue cyst production in outbred (Swiss white) and inbred (CBA/Ca) strains of mice experimentally infected with Neospora caninum tachyzoites.
abstract: The present work compared inbred (CBA/Ca) and outbred (Swiss white) strains of mice for their capacity to cope with a Neospora caninum infection and to consistently produce tissue cysts. In each experiment Swiss white and CBA/Ca mice were given three different doses of NC-1 tachyzoites. Lymphoproliferative and humoral responses as well as cytokine production were evaluated eight weeks after infection (PI) whereas tissue cyst production and histopathology were assessed 4, 6 and 10 weeks PI in immunosuppressed mice. Tissue cysts were observed 10 weeks after infection only in CBA/Ca mice receiving the two highest inoculum doses. Furthermore this strain showed the highest specific lymphoproliferative response. A mixed cytokine response with elevated IFN-gamma and fairly low IL-4 and IL-10 secretion was recorded. In both strains, no lesions were observed in the tissues of infected mice. This study indicates that CBA/Ca female mice infected with 5 x 10(6) NC-1 tachyzoites represent a useful model for the study of specific maternal immune responses in pregnant animals.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Parasitology and Pathology of Parasitic Diseases, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, Boulevard de Colonster, 20, 4000 Liege, Belgium. Chantal.Rettinger@ulg.ac.be
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rettigner
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Leclipteux
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Meerschman
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Focant
authors.forename: Bertrand
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Losson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology; D001921:Brain / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D018688:Neospora / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D016207:Cytokines