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- Author or Editor: J. P. Dubey x
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Abstract
Objective—To evaluate the immunologic response of a killed tachyzoite vaccine against Neospora caninum and its effectiveness in preventing fetal loss associated with experimentally induced neosporosis in sheep.
Animals—30 Dorset ewes.
Procedure—Ewes were randomly allocated to receive vaccination on days 1 and 60 of the study with a killed N caninum tachyzoite preparation in a commercially available adjuvant or a saline-adjuvant mixture. A ram was placed on pasture with the ewes from days 15 to 60. Blood was collected from ewes before primary and booster vaccinations and prior to experimental challenge with N caninum tachyzoite performed on day 90; sera were assessed via Neospora agglutination (NA) and immunofluorescence antibody (IFA) assays. Blood was collected from lambs before they suckled, and sera were tested for antibodies against N caninum.
Results—Of the 14 vaccinated ewes that became pregnant, 12 gave birth to live-born lambs; in contrast, 5 of 11 pregnant control ewes gave birth to live-born lambs. Whereas vaccination improved fetal survival in pregnant ewes challenged with N caninum tachyzoites, it did not appear to have any appreciable effect on transmission of N caninum to offspring, as indicated by results of NA and IFA assays.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—The N caninum tachyzoite vaccine used in this study appeared to provide protection against fetal loss associated with experimentally induced neosporosis in a high proportion of pregnant ewes. (Am J Vet Res 2004;65:1404–1408)
Abstract
Objective—To provide an epidemiologic investigation of the seroprevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in populations of cats and wild rodents in Rhode Island and to address the possible epidemiologic role of wild rodents in the spread of toxoplasmosis.
Animals—200 cats and 756 small wild rodents.
Procedure—Serum samples were obtained from 84 cats in animal shelters and 116 cats in veterinary hospitals. Serum samples were also obtained from 756 small wild rodents from multiple sites in Rhode Island. Sera from rodents and cats were assayed for antibodies to T gondii by use of the modified agglutination test
Results—Overall, 42% (84/200) of cats had serum antibodies to T gondii. Seroprevalence was not significantly different between stray (50%; 42 /84) versus client-owned (36%; 42/116) cats, between male (43%; 40/94) versus female (42%; 39/93) cats, or between indoor (26%; 7/27) versus outdoor (39%; 35/89) cats. Seroprevalence rate of trapped rodents was 0.8% (6/756). Six rodents captured in Washington County accounted for of the seropositive rodents. Four of 6 of the seropositive rodents were trapped at a single site in Washington County (an abandoned barn). Five stray cats, known to have resided at the same site in Washington County as 4 of the seropositive rodents, were also found to be seropositive for antibodies to T gondii.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Seroprevalence rate in rodents was not correlated with the seroprevalence rate in cats. Stray cats, especially those known to be feral, may be more likely to perpetuate the cat-mouse cycle of T gondii than clientowned cats. (Am J Vet Res 2002;63:1714–1717)
Abstract
Objective—To evaluate the immunologic response of a killed tachyzoite vaccine against Neospora caninum and its effectiveness in preventing vertical transmission of N caninum in sheep.
Animals—40 Dorset ewes seronegative for N caninum.
Procedure—Group-A ewes (n = 20) were vaccinated on days 1 and 126 with a killed N caninum tachyzoite preparation in a commercially available adjuvant. Group-B ewes (n = 20) were sham vaccinated. Blood samples were collected from ewes every 2 weeks and a recombinant ELISA (rELISA) was used to determine serum antibody titers against N caninum. During pregnancy, ewes were challenged with live N caninum tachyzoites. Precolostral serum was collected from lambs and tested for antibodies against N caninum by use of an indirect fluorescence antibody test and the rELISA. Tissue specimens from stillborn lambs or lambs that died within 2 weeks of birth were collected and examined for N caninum antigen and DNA by use of immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction assay, respectively.
Results—Serum antibody titers against N caninum were significantly higher in group-A ewes, compared with group B ewes, following vaccination. Serum antibodies against N caninum were detected in 100% (33/33) of group-B lambs and 75% (18/24) of group-A lambs. In tissue specimens, N caninum DNA was detected in 9 of 11 group-B lambs and 0 of 10 group- A lambs. Histologically, N caninum tachyzoites were observed in 4 group-A lambs and 3 group-B lambs.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—The killed tachyzoite vaccine against N caninum stimulated a humoral immune response in sheep and provided partial protection against vertical transmission. (Am J Vet Res 2003;64:449–452)
Abstract
Objective—To compare seroprevalences of antibodies against Bartonella henselae and Toxoplasma gondii and fecal shedding of Cryptosporidium spp, Giardia spp, and Toxocara cati in feral and pet domestic cats.
Design—Prospective cross-sectional serologic and coprologic survey.
Animals—100 feral cats and 76 pet domestic cats from Randolph County, NC.
Procedure—Blood and fecal samples were collected and tested.
Results—Percentages of feral cats seropositive for antibodies against B henselae and T gondii (93% and 63%, respectively) were significantly higher than percentages of pet cats (75% and 34%). Percentages of feral and pet cats with Cryptosporidium spp (7% of feral cats; 6% of pet cats), Giardia spp (6% of feral cats; 5% of pet cats), and T cati ova (21% of feral cats; 18% of pet cats) in their feces were not significantly different between populations. Results of CBCs and serum biochemical analyses were not significantly different between feral and pet cats, except that feral cats had a significantly lower median PCV and significantly higher median neutrophil count.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggested that feral and pet cats had similar baseline health status, as reflected by results of hematologic and serum biochemical testing and similar prevalences of infection with Cryptosporidium spp, Giardia spp, and T cati. Feral cats did have higher seroprevalences of antibodies against B henselae and T gondii than did pet cats, but this likely was related to greater exposure to vectors of these organisms. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 2004;225:1394–1398)
Abstract
Objective—To determine whether daily administration of pyrantel tartrate can prevent infection in horses experimentally challenged with Sarcocystis neurona.
Animals—24 mixed-breed specific-pathogen-free weanling horses, 10 adult horses, 1 opossum, and 6 mice.
Procedure—Sarcocystis neurona-naïve weanling horses were randomly allocated to 2 groups. Group A received pyrantel tartrate at the labeled dose, and group B received a nonmedicated pellet. Both groups were orally inoculated with 100 sporocysts/d for 28 days, 500 sporocysts/d for 28 days, and 1,000 sporocysts/ d for 56 days. Blood samples were collected weekly, and CSF was collected monthly. Ten seronegative adult horses were monitored as untreated, uninfected control animals. All serum and CSF samples were tested by use of western blot tests to detect antibodies against S neurona. At the end of the study, the number of seropositive and CSF-positive horses in groups A and B were compared by use of the Fisher exact test. Time to seroconversion on the basis of treatment groups and sex of horses was compared in 2 univariable Cox proportional hazards models.
Results—After 134 days of sporocyst inoculation, no significant differences were found between groups A and B for results of western blot tests of serum or CSF. There were no significant differences in number of days to seroconversion on the basis of treatment groups or sex of horses. The control horses remained seronegative.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Daily administration of pyrantel tartrate at the current labeled dose does not prevent S neurona infection in horses. (Am J Vet Res 2005;66:846–852)
Abstract
Objective—To describe the clinical, endoscopic, and serologic features of an outbreak of besnoitiosis in 2 donkey operations in northeastern Pennsylvania and to report the outcome of attempted treatment of 1 naturally infected individual.
Design—Observational study.
Animals—29 donkeys (Equus asinus) in northeastern Pennsylvania.
Procedures—Donkeys were examined for lesions suggestive of besnoitiosis in an outbreak investigation. Information was collected regarding the history and signalment of animals on each premises. Rhinolaryngoscopy was performed to identify nasopharyngeal and laryngeal lesions. Serum samples were collected for immunofluorescent antibody testing and immunoblotting for Besnoitia spp. Skin biopsy samples were obtained from 8 animals with lesions suggestive of besnoitiosis for histologic examination. Quantitative real-time PCR assay for Besnoitia spp was performed on tissue samples from 5 animals.
Results—Besnoitiosis was confirmed in 6 of the 8 suspected cases. The most common lesion site was the nares, followed by the skin and sclera. Donkeys with clinical signs of disease had higher serum antibody titers and tested positive for a greater number of immunoblot bands than did donkeys without clinical signs of disease. All animals evaluated by PCR assay tested positive. Putative risk factors for disease included age and sex. Ponazuril was not effective at treating besnoitiosis in a naturally infected donkey.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Knowledge of clinical and serologic features of besnoitiosis in donkeys will assist clinicians in the diagnosis and prevention of this disease in donkey populations. Besnoitiosis may be an emerging disease of donkeys in the United States.
