Neospora caninum bioassay in gerbils using placental tissues from naturally infected goats

Autor(es)

Costa, R. C. ^{[1, 2]} ; Mesquita, L. P. ^[2] ; Nunes, M. V. L. ^[1] ; Oliveira, I. M. ^[1] ; Oliveira, L. F. S. ^[1] ; Souza, Alinne R. ^[1] ; Maiorka, P. C. ^[2] ; Varaschin, M. S. ^[1]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Fed Lavras, Dept Vet Med, Lavras - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Pathol, Av Prof Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Veterinary Parasitology; v. 249, p. 70-73, JAN 15 2018.
• Citações Web of Science: 2

Resumo

Neospora caninum is one of the main agents that causes abortions in cattle worldwide. However, little is known about the pathogenesis of neosporosis in small ruminants, especially goats. Gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) have been used as a model for neosporosis, and this species is highly susceptible to infection by bovine N. caninum strains. The present study aimed to evaluate the susceptibility of gerbils to a N. caninum isolate from goats. The placentas were obtained from naturally infected goats, that presented with mild to severe lymphoplasmacytic and histiocytic infiltrate, foci of necrosis, calcification and protozoan-like structures. Immunosuppressed gerbils bioassayed with N. caninum-infected placental tissues showed severe neurological signs. Microscopic lesions in these gerbils were characterized by encephalitis, myocarditis, myositis and pancreatitis. These lesions were often associated with a small to moderate number of N. caninum tachyzoites, confirmed by immunohistochemistry and PCR. This is the first report showing that goat N. caninum strains could infect immunocompetent gerbils and cause severe lesions and clinical signs in immunosuppressed gerbils. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 16/24856-0 - Estudo da resposta inflamatória no sistema nervoso central de camundongos em modelos de infecção com agentes virais e protozoários
• Beneficiário: Paulo César Maiorka
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular
• Processo FAPESP: 16/05010-2 - Isolamento e estudo de patogenicidade de uma nova cepa de Neospora caninum de caprinos naturalmente infectados
• Beneficiário: Rafael Carneiro Costa
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Doutorado