- Brief Communication
- Published:
Neospora caninum Infection in a Litter of Labrador Retriever Dogs in Denmark
Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica volume 36, pages 387–391 (1995)
Abstract
Neospora caninum is a recently recognized cyst-forming coccidian parasite associated with severe encephalomyelitis and myositis in dogs of different breeds and ages (Bjerkås et al 1984, Bjerkås & Presthus 1988, Dubey et al. 1988), but has for many years been misdiagnosed as Toxoplasma gondii. In some dogs, the main clinical sign has been attributed to polyradiculoneuritis (Dubey et al. 1988, Cuddon et al. 1992). Furthermore, ulcerative dermatitis (Dubey et al. 1988) and megaoesophagus have been reported (Wolf et al. 1991). The life cycle of the parasite and mode of infection have not been clarified, but transplacental infection seems so far to be the natural route of transmission between intermediate hosts (Dubey & Lindsay 1989). It has been speculated that the disease in young and adult dogs might be due to reactivation of a persistent infection because corticosteroid therapy can activate a latent N. caninum infection (Dubey & Lindsay 1993).
References
Bjerkàs I, Mohn SF, Presthus J: Unidentified cyst-forming sporozoon causing encephalomyelitis and myositis in dogs. Z. Parasitenkd. 1984, 70, 271–274.
Bjerkås I, Presthus J: Immuno-histochemical and ultrastructural characteristics of a cystforming sporozoon associated with encephalomyelitis and myositis in dogs. APMIS. 1988, 96, 445–454.
Cuddon P, Lin D-S, Bowman DD, Lindsay DS, Miller TK, Duncan JD, deLahunta A, Cummings J, Suter M, Cooper B, King JM, Dubey JP: Neospora Caninum infection in English Springer Spaniel littermates. Diagnostic evaluation and organism isolation. J. vet. intern. Med. 1992, 6, 325–332.
Dubey JP, Carpenter JL, Speer CA, Topper MJ, Uggla A: Newly recognized fatal protozoan disease of dogs. J. Amer. vet. med. Ass. 1988, 192, 1269–1285.
Dubey JP, Lindsay DS: Transplacental Neospora caninum infection in dogs. J. Amer. vet. Res. 1989, 50, 1578–1579.
Dubey JP, Lindsay DS: Neosporosis. Parasitol Today. 1993, 9, 452–458.
Flagstad A, Trojaborg W, Gammeltoft S: Congenital myasthenic syndrome in the dog breed Gammel Dansk Hønsehund: Clinical, electrophysiological, pharmacological and im munological comparison with acquired myasthenia gravis. Acta vet. scand. 1989, 30, 89–102.
Kimura J: Electrodiagnosis in diseases of nerve and muscle. 2nd ed, EA. Davies, Philadelphia. 1983.
Lindsay DS, Dubey JP, Upton SJ, Ridley RK: Serological prevalence of Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii in dogs from Kansas. J. helminthol. Soc. 1990, 57, 86–88.
Oh SJ: Repetitive nerve stimulation test. Meth. clin. Neurophys. 1992, 3, 1–15.
Sims MH, Redding RW: Maturation of nerve conduction velocity and the evoked muscle potential in the dog. J. Amer. vet. Res. 1980, 41, 1247–1251.
Trees AJ, Guy F, TennantBJ, Balfour AH, Dubey JP: Prevalence of antibodies to Neospora caninum in a population of urban dogs in England. Vet. Ree. 1993, 132, 125–126.
Wolf M, Cachin M, Vandevelde M, Tipold A, Dubey JP: Zur klinischen Diagnostic des Protozoären Myositissyndroms (Neospora caninum) des Welpen (Clinical diagnosis of protozoal myositis-en-cephalitis syndrome (Neospaa caninum) in puppies.) Tierärztl. Prax. 1991, 19, 302–306.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Flagstad, A., Jensen, Η.Ε., Bjerkàs, Ι. et al. Neospora caninum Infection in a Litter of Labrador Retriever Dogs in Denmark. Acta Vet Scand 36, 387–391 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03547685
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03547685