Toxoplasma gondii infection in sheep and cattle

• Published in: Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases microbiology and infectious diseases, 1997-02, Vol.20 (2), p.191-196
• Main Authors: Esteban-Redondo, Irma, Innes, Elisabeth A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abortion, Veterinary - etiology; Abortion, Veterinary - immunology; Abortion, Veterinary - parasitology; Animal protozoal diseases; Animals; Antibodies, Protozoan - biosynthesis; Biological and medical sciences; bovines; Cattle; Cattle Diseases - etiology; Cattle Diseases - immunology; Cattle Diseases - parasitology; Cysts - parasitology; Female; Immunity, Cellular; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; mouton; Parasitic diseases; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic - etiology; Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic - immunology; Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic - veterinary; Protozoal diseases; Sheep; Sheep Diseases - etiology; Sheep Diseases - immunology; Sheep Diseases - parasitology; Species Specificity; Toxoplasma - immunology; Toxoplasma - isolation & purification; Toxoplasma - pathogenicity; Toxoplasma gondii; Toxoplasmosis, Animal - complications; Toxoplasmosis, Animal - etiology; Toxoplasmosis, Animal - immunology
• ISSN: 0147-9571; 1878-1667
• DOI: 10.1016/S0147-9571(96)00039-2

Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite that can infect all warm-blooded animals. Sheep and cattle show different susceptibilities to T. gondii infection. Primary infection in pregnant sheep can result in abortion or the birth of weak lambs but they are then protected against further challenge by the development of an effective immunity. Cattle on the other hand can be readily infected, but abortion or perinatal mortality have not been recorded. The evidence suggests that cattle develop a more effective immune response to T. gondii infection than sheep. Potential mechanisms to explain these differences are discussed in this paper. Le Toxoplasma gondii est un protozoo parasite qui peut infecter tous les animaux de sang chaude. Le mouton et les bovines sont differentment sousceptibles à l'infection pour T. gondii. L'infection primaire chez le mouton pendant la pèriode de gestation peut provoquer l'abortement ou la naissance du animaux faibles mais ils sont alors protegés contre une infection posterieur par le dévélopement d'une immunité effective. Bovines, par contre, peuvent être vraiment infectés mais ni l'abortement ni la mortalité périnatal ont été décrités. L'evidence sugére que les bovines dévelopent une résponse immune plus éffective contre le T. gondii que le mouton. Les posibles mecanismes pour expliquer ces difference sont discutés dans ce article.