Oral inoculation of cats with tissue cysts of Neospora caninum

Milton Μ. McAllister From the Department of Veterinary Sciences, College of Agriculture, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82070 (McAllister, Jolley, Wills, McGuire, Tranas) and the Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849 (Lindsay).

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William R. Jolley From the Department of Veterinary Sciences, College of Agriculture, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82070 (McAllister, Jolley, Wills, McGuire, Tranas) and the Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849 (Lindsay).

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Rebecca A. Wills From the Department of Veterinary Sciences, College of Agriculture, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82070 (McAllister, Jolley, Wills, McGuire, Tranas) and the Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849 (Lindsay).

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David S. Lindsay From the Department of Veterinary Sciences, College of Agriculture, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82070 (McAllister, Jolley, Wills, McGuire, Tranas) and the Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849 (Lindsay).

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Angela Μ. McGuire From the Department of Veterinary Sciences, College of Agriculture, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82070 (McAllister, Jolley, Wills, McGuire, Tranas) and the Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849 (Lindsay).

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Jennifer D. Tranas From the Department of Veterinary Sciences, College of Agriculture, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82070 (McAllister, Jolley, Wills, McGuire, Tranas) and the Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849 (Lindsay).

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Abstract

Objective

To test the hypothesis that cats are definitive hosts of Neospora caninum.

Animals

6 weaned male kittens obtained from 2 sources, and several dozen outbred mice.

Procedure

Cats were fed large numbers of 3 strains of N caninum: tissue cysts in buffered saline solution, mouse brain homogenates, and whole carcass homogenates from seropositive mice. Fecal specimens were examined for 4 weeks by use of flotation tests, and bioassays were performed in mice. One cat was inoculated parenterally with tachyzoites, to determine whether cats could respond serologically to N caninum. Tissue cysts from portions of oral inocula were cultured to verify viability. Indirect fluorescent antibody serologic testing, histologic and immunohistologic examinations, cell culture, and polymerase chain reaction procedures were performed 4 to 8 weeks after oral exposure, to seek evidence of infection of cats and mice.

Results

None of the cats or mice seroconverted to N caninum, with the exception of the single cat inoculated parenterally. Fecal shedding of oocysts was not observed, except for Isospora felis oocysts that were shed by 2 cats beginning prior to oral challenge exposure. Evidence of infection was not detected in tissues of cats or mice, with the exception of the parenterally inoculated cat.

Conclusions

The hypothesis that cats are definitive hosts of N caninum is not supported.

Clinical Relevance

Extermination of cats in efforts to control bovine neosporosis is not warranted. (Am J Vet Res 1998;59:441–444)

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Cover American Journal of Veterinary Research
American Journal of Veterinary Research
Issue:
01 Apr 1998
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