Scientific Research and Reports on Neospora Caninum

Neosporosis in animals—The last five years
J.P. Dubey, a,1, G. Schares, b
a Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Animal and Natural Resources Institute, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
b Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut – Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Seestrasse 55, D-16868 Wusterhausen, Germany

Abstract:
Neospora caninum is a protozoan parasite of animals. Until 1988, it was misdiagnosed as Toxoplasma gondii. Since its first recognition in 1984 in dogs and the description of a new genus and species Neospora caninum in 1988, neosporosis has emerged as a serious disease of cattle and dogs worldwide. Abortions and neonatal mortality are a major problem in livestock operations and neosporosis is a major cause of abortion in cattle. This review is focused on current status of neosporosis in animals based on papers published in the last five years. Worldwide seroprevalences are tabulated. Strategies for control and prevention are discussed.

Gray wolf(Canis lupus) is a natural definitive host for Neospora caninum
J.P. Dubey?, M.C.Jenkins, C.Rajendran, K.Miska, L.R.Ferreira, J.Martins, O.C.H. Kwok, S.Choudhary
United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Animal and Natural Resources Institute, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Building 1001, Beltsville, MD 20705-2350, USA

Abstract:
The graywolf(Canis lupus) was found to be a new natural definitive host for Neospora caninum. Neospora-like oocysts were found microscopically in the feces of three of 73 wolves from Minnesota examined at necropsy. N. caninum-specific DNA was amplified from the oocysts of all three wolves. Oocysts from one wolf were infective for the gamma interferon gene knockout(KO)mice. Viable N. caninum (designated NcWolfUS1)was isolated in cell cultures seeded with tissue homogenate from the infected mouse.Typical thick walled tissue cysts were found in outbred mice inoculated with the parasite from the KO mouse. Tissue stages in mice stained positively with N. caninum-specific polyclonal antibodies. Our observation suggests that wolves may be an important link in the sylvatic cycle of N. caninum.