Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026
08:26
Nucleofection and In Vivo Propagation of Chicken Eimeria Parasites
Published on: February 14, 2020
Intranuclear coccidiosis in a calf
Tomoko Nishida1, Shinichi Hatama, Yoshiharu Ishikawa
1Iburi Livestock Hygiene Service Center, Noboribetsu, Japan.
The Journal of Veterinary Medical Science
|September 2, 2009
Summary
Intranuclear coccidiosis, caused by Eimeria alabamensis, was identified in a calf with severe diarrhea. This parasitic infection occurred within cell nuclei, potentially explaining its low pathogenicity.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Pathology
- Parasitology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Coccidiosis is a significant parasitic disease affecting livestock, often causing gastrointestinal issues.
- Intranuclear parasitic infections are rare, presenting unique diagnostic and pathogenetic challenges.
Observation:
- An 11-month-old Japanese Black calf presented with severe diarrhea, failure to thrive, and became moribund, necessitating euthanasia.
- Histopathological examination revealed highly atrophic small intestinal villi with meronts and merozoites localized within epithelial cell nuclei.
Findings:
- Eimeria alabamensis-specific DNA was confirmed in the affected tissues using polymerase chain reaction and nucleotide sequencing.
- Electron microscopy showed parasites within nuclear inclusions, enclosed by nuclear envelope-derived membranes, and intracytoplasmic stages in direct contact with the cytosol.
Implications:
- The intranuclear location and apparent ability of merozoites to exit cells without lysis may contribute to the observed low pathogenicity of this specific coccidial species.
- This case highlights the importance of considering intranuclear parasitic infections in differential diagnoses for severe gastrointestinal disease in young ruminants.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Cryptococcal Meningitis
Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection predominantly associated with HIV/AIDS, accounting for over 100,000 deaths annually worldwide. However, it also affects individuals with other forms of immunosuppression, including those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, organ transplant recipients, patients with innate immunodeficiencies, and individuals with hematological disorders. The infection is caused mainly by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii,...
01:27Cytomegalovirus Disease
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease is caused by human cytomegalovirus, a double-stranded DNA virus of the Herpesviridae family. While primary CMV infection is often asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals, the virus can cause severe disease in neonates and immunocompromised patients. CMV is the most common cause of congenital viral infection in the United States, and a major pathogen in solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.CMV is transmitted via bodily fluids, sexual...
01:28Fungal Phylum Microsporidia
Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...
01:26Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is a severe tick-borne illness caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, a Gram-negative, coccobacillary bacterium. This pathogen is an obligate intracellular parasite, requiring a host cell for replication. Transmission occurs through the bite of an infected tick. In the United States, the most important vectors are Dermacentor variabilis (American dog tick) and Dermacentor andersoni (Rocky Mountain wood tick), though other tick species may also serve as vectors.
01:28Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis, a zoonotic disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, poses significant public health challenges globally due to its high seroprevalence and varied clinical manifestations. As an obligate intracellular parasite, T. gondii can infect all warm-blooded vertebrates, but felids are its only definitive hosts, shedding unsporulated oocysts into the environment. Humans typically acquire the infection through ingestion of tissue cysts in undercooked meat or oocysts from...
01:26Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology
Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma caused by direct viral invasion or immune-mediated mechanisms triggered by infections or tumors. Both processes lead to neuronal injury, disrupted neurotransmission, and diverse neurological symptoms, often with overlapping clinical and pathological features.Autoimmune EncephalitisIn autoimmune encephalitis, antibodies target neuronal antigens on cell surfaces, synapses, or within neurons. A key example is anti-NMDAR encephalitis, which can...