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Title: NATURAL BESNOITIA SP. INFECTION IN DOMESTIC RABBITS FROM ARGENTINA

Author
item VENTURINI, L - UNIV. NACI. LA PLATA
item PETRUCCELLI, M - UNIV. NACI. LA PLATA
item PISCOPO, M - UNIV. NACI. LA PLATA
item UNZAGA, J - UNIV. NACI. LA PLATA
item VENTURINI, M - UNIV. NACI. LA PLATA
item BACIGALUPE, D - UNIV. NACI. LA PLATA
item BASSO, W - UNIV. NACI. LA PLATA
item Dubey, Jitender

Submitted to: Veterinary Parasitology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/10/2002
Publication Date: 9/11/2002
Citation: Venturini, L., Petruccelli, M., Piscopo, M., Unzaga, J.M., Venturini, M.C., Bacigalupe, D., Basso, W., Dubey, J.P. 2002. Natural besnoitia sp. infection in domestic rabbits from argentina. Veterinary Parasitology 107:273-278.

Interpretive Summary: Besnoitia species are single celled parasites of livestock and wild animals. Certain species of Besnoitia cause economic losses in cattle, goats and other animals. Scientists at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center and a University in Argentina report for the first time besnoitiosis in rabbits from Argentina. This is the first report of Besnoitia infection in any animal from Argentina. The results will be of interest to biologists, parasitologists and veterinarians.

Technical Abstract: Besnoitia spp. are apicomplexan coccidian parasites affecting several species of mammals and cold-blooded animals in several countries. Besnoitia sp. tissue cysts were seen in several tissues of five rabbits from a rabbit breeder in La Plata, Argentina. Bradyzoites released from macroscopic tissue cysts were inoculated onto bovine monocytes, and into interferon gamma gene knockout (KO) mice. Besnoitia sp. tachyzoites were seen in the peritoneal exudate of KO mice on day 10 p.i. and these tachyzoites were infective to other KO mice. Tachyzoites grown in cell culture were infective to gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus). This is the first report of Besnoitia sp. infection in any host in Argentina.