Pathology and neonatal infection of calves with Cysticercus bovis

It was demonstrated that the tissue reaction around the developing C. bovis in neonatally infected calves (4 days after birth) differs quantitatively and partly also qualitatively from the reaction in calves infected at the age of several months. In neonatal infection, the foci caused by cysticerci were 3-4-times smaller on day 14 p.i., and after 34 days, the cysts were quite transparent and similar to those occurring in older calves not before 42-50 days p.i. The tissue eosinophilia was lacking and the activation of fibroblasts and collagen formation was markedly weak. There was a surprisingly low number of cells of lymphoid type. The growth of the cysticercus and its morphological differentiation was only insignificantly more rapid. The serological tests (IHA, MPA, IFR) repeated four times (10-34 days p.i.). were negative in one calf, whereas in the other one, slaughtered on day 14 p.i., positive results were obtained only in IFR (1:40).