title: Detection and molecular analysis of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum from dogs with neurological disorders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are related Apicomplexa parasites responsible for systemic diseases in many species of animals, including dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study aimed to determine the occurrence of T. gondii and N. caninum infections in 50 dogs with neurological signs that were admitted to the Veterinary Hospital of Universidade Estadual Paulista, City of Botucatu, Brazil. All animals were screened for antibodies using an immunofluorescent antibody test for both parasites. Tissues of positive animals were bioassayed in mice (T. gondii) and gerbils (N. caninum), and DNA was analyzed using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Positive samples for T. gondii by PCR were typed using restriction fragment length polymorphism-PCR for 11 markers: SAG1, SAG2 (5'-3'-SAG2 and alt.SAG2), SAG3, Btub, GRA6, L358, c22-8, c29-6, PK1 and Apico, and CS3 marker for virulence analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Specific antibodies were detected in 11/50 (22%; 95% confidence interval (CI95%), 12.8-35.3%) animals for T. gondii and 7/50 (14%; CI95%, 7.02-26.3%) for N. caninum. In the bioassay and PCR, 7/11 (63.6%; CI95%, 34.9-84.8%) samples were positive for T. gondii and 3/7 (42.9%; CI95%I, 15.7-75.5%) samples were positive for N. caninum. Three different genotypes were identified, but only 1 was unique.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data confirm the presence of T. gondii and N. caninum in dogs from Brazil, indicating the importance of this host as a sentinel of T. gondii for human beings, and the genotypic variation of this parasite in Brazil.
authors: Departamento de Higiene Veterinária e Saúde Publica, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, SP, Brasil. hlangoni@fmvz.unesp.br
authors: Helio
authors: H
authors: Langoni
authors: Guilherme
authors: G
authors: Matteucci
authors: Bruno
authors: B
authors: Medici
authors: Lucilene Granuzio
authors: LG
authors: Camossi
authors: Virgínia Bodelão
authors: VB
authors: Richini-Pereira
authors: Rodrigo Costa da
authors: RC
authors: Silva
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D005849:Gerbillinae; D051379:Mice; D018688:Neospora / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D016054:DNA, Protozoan