NEOSPOROSIS-ASSOCIATED ABORTION IN DAIRY GOATS IN COSTA RICA

Authors: Dubey, Jitender; MORALES A - UNIV NACIONAL, COSTA RICA; VILLALOBOS P - UNIV NACIONAL, COSTA RICA; LINDSAY DAVID S - AUBURN UNIV; BLAGBURN B L - AUBURN UNIV; TOPPER M J - WAALTER RED ARMY INST

Submitted to: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/8/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Neospora caninum is a recently discovered protozoan parasite of livestock and companion animals. It causes abortion in livestock and paralysis and death in dogs. Its life cycle and sources of infections are unknown. Scientists at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center and Nacional University in Cost Rica report for the first time neosporosis-associated abortion in dairy goats in Costs Rica. This report will be useful to veterinarians and goat producers.

Technical Abstract: Neosporosis was diagnosed in a herd of dairy goats from Costa Rica. Neospora caninum tachyzoites and tissue cysts were found in tissues of a 3 1/2 month-old gestational age aborted fetus from a Saanen goat. The fetus had hydrocephalus and a hypoplastic cerebellum. The predominant lesion in the fetus was severe encephalitis associated with numerous N. caninum tissue cysts. The parasite in fetal tissues reacted positively with N. caninum antibodies in immunohistochemical tests. The doe was clinically normal and had an 1:800 antibody titer to N. caninum in an indirect fluorescent antibody test, 9 months after abortion. Five of 77 other does from this herd had indirect fluorescent antibody titers (more than 1:100) to N. caninum.