Transplacental transmission in cattle: is Toxoplasma gondii less potent than Neospora caninum?
Summary of "Transplacental transmission in cattle: is Toxoplasma gondii less potent than Neospora caninum?"
We compared the transplacental-transmission ability of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in cattle. One uninfected pregnant heifer served as control, while three were inoculated with N. caninum K9WA strain and four with T. gondii RH strain at their midgestational period. Both infected groups showed clinical signs and antibodies either to N. caninum or T. gondii, while the control animal was normal. Two (50%) Toxoplasma dams aborted on days 6 and 11 postinoculation. T. gondii tachyzoites were found in various organs of those dams that had abortions but not in their fetuses. Two Neospora dams did not abort but gave birth to subclinically infected calves. The remaining two Toxoplasma dams and one from Neospora group became recumbent. Those two dams and their fetuses showed disseminated Toxoplasma DNA, but no Neospora DNA was found. Our findings suggest that maternal toxoplasmosis could be a cause of abortion and congenital toxoplasmosis in cattle, especially when they are infected by virulent strains.
Affiliation
Department of Protozoology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Journal Details
This article was published in the following journal.
Name: Parasitology research
ISSN: 1432-1955
Pages:
Links
- PubMed Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21203773
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00436-010-2172-8
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
Toxoplasmosis
The acquired form of infection by Toxoplasma gondii in animals and man.
Toxoplasma
A genus of protozoa parasitic to birds and mammals. T. gondii is one of the most common infectious pathogenic animal parasites of man.
Spiramycin
A macrolide antibiotic produced by Streptomyces ambofaciens. The drug is effective against gram-positive aerobic pathogens, N. gonorrhoeae, and staphylococci. It is used to treat infections caused by bacteria and Toxoplasma gondii.
Pestivirus
A genus of FLAVIVIRIDAE, also known as mucosal disease virus group, which is not arthropod-borne. Transmission is by direct and indirect contact, and by transplacental and congenital transmission. Species include BORDER DISEASE VIRUS, bovine viral diarrhea virus (DIARRHEA VIRUS, BOVINE VIRAL), and CLASSICAL SWINE FEVER VIRUS.
Toxoplasmosis, Cerebral
Infections of the BRAIN caused by the protozoan TOXOPLASMA gondii that primarily arise in individuals with IMMUNOLOGIC DEFICIENCY SYNDROMES (see also AIDS-RELATED OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTIONS). The infection may involve the brain diffusely or form discrete abscesses. Clinical manifestations include SEIZURES, altered mentation, headache, focal neurologic deficits, and INTRACRANIAL HYPERTENSION. (From Joynt, Clinical Neurology, 1998, Ch27, pp41-3)
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