title: Detection of Nesopora caninum-specific DNA from cerebrospinal fluid by polymerase chain reaction in a dog with confirmed neosporosis.
abstract: A one-month male Greyhound dog presented with a swinging gait of the hindlimbs, and later developed muscular atrophy of the femoral region and hyperextension of hindlimbs. The dog had positive serum IFAT titers to Neospora caninum, but a negative titer in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). N. caninum-specific DNA was amplified from the CSF using a semi-nested polymerase chain reaction assay. Clusters of protozoa in biopsied muscle fibers were subsequently confirmed as N. caninum tachyzoites by immunohistochemical examination. Early recognition and treatment are necessary for effective recovery of clinical canine neosporosis, but antemortem diagnosis is difficult. We suggest that the detection of parasite deoxyribonucleic acid in the CSF is a useful antemortem diagnostic method in facilitating treatment of this disease.
authors.affiliation: Noya Animal Hospital, 143-19 Kamikayama, Hidaka, Saitama 350-1234, Japan.
authors.forename: Kyohei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishigaki
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Noya
authors.forename: Yumiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kagawa
authors.forename: Kazunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ike
authors.forename: Hiromitsu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Orima
authors.forename: Soichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Imai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D018688:Neospora / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010243:Paralysis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D016054:DNA, Protozoan