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A Simple Fluorescence Assay for Quantification of Canine Neutrophil Extracellular Trap Release
Published on: November 21, 2016
Dogs are definitive hosts of Neospora caninum
M M McAllister1, J P Dubey, D S Lindsay
1University of Wyoming, College of Agriculture, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Laramie 82070, USA. mcallister@cvm.uiuc.edu
International Journal for Parasitology
|October 15, 1998
Summary
Dogs can definitively transmit Neospora caninum, a parasite causing neosporosis. This study confirmed dogs shed infectious oocysts, proving their role as a definitive host in the parasite's life cycle.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Parasitology
- Infectious Diseases
- Canine Health
Background:
- Neospora caninum is a significant protozoan parasite responsible for neosporosis, a leading cause of abortion in cattle.
- The definitive host of Neospora caninum has long been debated, impacting disease control strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and confirm whether dogs serve as the definitive host for Neospora caninum.
- To elucidate the role of dogs in the transmission cycle of Neospora caninum.
Main Methods:
- Four dogs were experimentally infected with Neospora caninum tissue cysts from infected mice.
- Dog feces were analyzed daily for oocyst shedding using sucrose flotation.
- Inoculated mice were monitored for neosporosis using morphological, immunohistological, serological, and genetic analyses.
Main Results:
- Three of the four infected dogs shed oocysts in their feces, confirming shedding of the parasite.
- Oocysts were viable, sporulated within 3 days, and contained infective sporozoites.
- Mice inoculated with fecal extracts from shedding dogs developed neosporosis, confirmed by multiple diagnostic methods.
Conclusions:
- Dogs are confirmed as the definitive host for Neospora caninum.
- The study demonstrates that dogs play a crucial role in the life cycle and transmission of Neospora caninum.
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