Evidence of congenital transmission of Neospora caninum in naturally infected water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) fetus from Brazil

• Published in: Parasitology research (1987) 2011-03, Vol.108 (3), p.741-743
• Main Authors: Chryssafidis, Andreas L, Soares, Rodrigo M, Rodrigues, Aline A. R, Carvalho, Nelcio A. T, Gennari, Solange Maria
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Animals; Antibodies; Antibodies, Protozoan - analysis; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Brain; Brain - embryology; Brain - parasitology; Brazil; Bubalus bubalis; Buffaloes - embryology; Buffaloes - parasitology; Coccidiosis - congenital; Coccidiosis - parasitology; Coccidiosis - transmission; Coccidiosis - veterinary; Congenital infection; DNA; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer - genetics; Female; Fetal Diseases - parasitology; Fetal Diseases - veterinary; Fetus - parasitology; Fetuses; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; General aspects and techniques. Study of several systematic groups. Models; Genes; Gestational age; Immunology; Infection; Invertebrates; Livestock; Mammalia; Medical Microbiology; Microbiology; Neospora - genetics; Neospora - immunology; Neospora - isolation & purification; Neospora - pathogenicity; Neospora caninum; Neurotransmission; Nucleotide sequence; Parasitic diseases; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Pregnancy; Pregnant women; Short Communication; Thorax; Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution
• ISSN: 0932-0113; 1432-1955
• DOI: 10.1007/s00436-010-2214-2

The aim of this study was to determine the congenital infection by Neospora caninum in the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), a natural intermediate host. Nine pregnant water buffalos, raised under free-grazing condition, were slaughtered, and their fetuses were collected. Samples of brain and thoracic fluid were obtained from those fetuses, with gestational ages ranging from 2 to 5 months. The DNA of N. caninum was detected and identified in the brain of one of those fetuses, using two PCR assays, one directed to the Nc5 gene and the other, to the common toxoplasmatiid ITS1 sequence. The DNA fragments produced on PCR were sequenced, and N. caninum was confirmed in the samples. No antibodies to N. caninum were detected on any sample of thoracic fluid by immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT < 25). This is the first confirmation of congenital transmission of N. caninum in water buffalos.