ISOLATION OF VIABLE TOXOPLASMA GONDII FROM NATURALLY-INFECTED ABORTED BOVINE FETUSES

Authors: CANADA, NUNO - UNIV. PORTO, PORTUGAL; MEIRELES, CARLA - UNIV. PORTO, PORTUGAL; ROCHA, A - UNIV. PORTO, PORTUGAL; CORREIA DA COSTA, J - UNIV. PORTO, PORTUGAL; ERICKSON, M - UNIV. PORTO, PORTUGAL; Dubey, Jitender

Submitted to: Journal of Parasitology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/10/2002
Publication Date: 9/24/2002
Citation: Canada, N., Meireles, C.S., Rocha, A., Correia Da Costa, J.M., Erickson, M.W., Dubey, J.P. 2002. Isolation of viable toxoplasma gondii from naturally-infected aborted bovine fetuses. Journal of Parasitology 88:1251-1252.

Interpretive Summary: Toxoplasma gondii is a single-celled parasite that causes abortion in sheep and goats worldwide. Scientists at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center and University of Porto, Portugal report the first isolation of Toxoplasma from brains of 2 aborted fetuses. These results will be of interest to parasitologists, biologists, veterinarians, and dairy farmers.

Technical Abstract: Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii are related parasites. The former is a common cause of abortion in dairy cattle. The latter has not been conclusively demonstrated in bovine fetuses. During the course of attempts to isolate N. caninum from aborted fetuses, T. gondii was isolated from 2 aborted fetuses, 1 from Portugal and 1 from the U.S. Both isolates were made in mice. The fetus from Portugal was about 5 mo gestational age and the fetus from the U.S. was a fullterm stillborn