Abstract
BACKGROUND: Neospora is a newly recognized Toxoplasma-like protozoan that causes spontaneous abortion and/or neonatal disease in a wide range of animals. The purpose of this study was to determine the susceptibility of primates to Neospora infection. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: In experiment 1, two rhesus macaque fetuses were inoculated in utero at gestational day 65 with 1 x 106 culture-derived Neospora tachyzoites. A control fetus was given uninfected vehicle. The fetuses were removed by hysterotomy between 13 and 22 days postinoculation. In experiment 2, two pregnant macaques were inoculated intramuscularly and intravenously on gestational day 43 with a total of 1.6 x 107 culture-derived tachyzoites. A pregnant control macaque was given uninfected vehicle. The fetuses were removed by hysterotomy between 67 to 70 days postinoculation. Fetal tissues were collected for in vitro parasite isolation, histopathology, and Neospora immunohistochemistry. Fetal blood was examined for Neospora-specific antibody titers using an indirect fluorescent antibody test. RESULTS: Neospora infections were confirmed in all fetuses that received tachyzoites either directly or via transplacental infection. In experiment 1, infected fetuses had reduced amniotic fluid volumes, marked protozoal amnionitis and dermatitis, and a mild multifocal encephalitis. Infected fetuses from experiment 2 had a chronic multifocal necrotizing nonsuppurative meningoencephalitis with microcavitation, that was confined to the cerebrum, and a mild multifocal necrotizing amnionitis. In both experiments, Neospora tachyzoites were detected in association with lesions in fetal tissues by immunohistochemistry, and the parasites were reisolated in vitro. IgG Neospora antibody titers were detected in blood from all infected fetuses, whereas Neospora-specific IgM and IgA titers were found in one and three fetuses, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that nonhuman primates are susceptible to transplacental Neospora infection. The fetal lesions after transplacental infection are similar to those induced by transplacental Toxoplasma infections in primates.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 236-242 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Laboratory Investigation |
| Volume | 71 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| State | Published - 1994 |
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Keywords
- Encephalitis
- Fetus
- Macaca mulatta
- Toxoplasma
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pathology and Forensic Medicine
Cite this
Experimental fetal and transplacental Neospora infection in the nonhuman primate. / Barr, B. C.; Conrad, Patricia A; Sverlow, K. W.; Tarantal, Alice F; Hendrickx, Andrew G.
In: Laboratory Investigation, Vol. 71, No. 2, 1994, p. 236-242.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Experimental fetal and transplacental Neospora infection in the nonhuman primate
AU - Barr, B. C.
AU - Conrad, Patricia A
AU - Sverlow, K. W.
AU - Tarantal, Alice F
AU - Hendrickx, Andrew G
PY - 1994
Y1 - 1994
N2 - BACKGROUND: Neospora is a newly recognized Toxoplasma-like protozoan that causes spontaneous abortion and/or neonatal disease in a wide range of animals. The purpose of this study was to determine the susceptibility of primates to Neospora infection. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: In experiment 1, two rhesus macaque fetuses were inoculated in utero at gestational day 65 with 1 x 106 culture-derived Neospora tachyzoites. A control fetus was given uninfected vehicle. The fetuses were removed by hysterotomy between 13 and 22 days postinoculation. In experiment 2, two pregnant macaques were inoculated intramuscularly and intravenously on gestational day 43 with a total of 1.6 x 107 culture-derived tachyzoites. A pregnant control macaque was given uninfected vehicle. The fetuses were removed by hysterotomy between 67 to 70 days postinoculation. Fetal tissues were collected for in vitro parasite isolation, histopathology, and Neospora immunohistochemistry. Fetal blood was examined for Neospora-specific antibody titers using an indirect fluorescent antibody test. RESULTS: Neospora infections were confirmed in all fetuses that received tachyzoites either directly or via transplacental infection. In experiment 1, infected fetuses had reduced amniotic fluid volumes, marked protozoal amnionitis and dermatitis, and a mild multifocal encephalitis. Infected fetuses from experiment 2 had a chronic multifocal necrotizing nonsuppurative meningoencephalitis with microcavitation, that was confined to the cerebrum, and a mild multifocal necrotizing amnionitis. In both experiments, Neospora tachyzoites were detected in association with lesions in fetal tissues by immunohistochemistry, and the parasites were reisolated in vitro. IgG Neospora antibody titers were detected in blood from all infected fetuses, whereas Neospora-specific IgM and IgA titers were found in one and three fetuses, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that nonhuman primates are susceptible to transplacental Neospora infection. The fetal lesions after transplacental infection are similar to those induced by transplacental Toxoplasma infections in primates.
AB - BACKGROUND: Neospora is a newly recognized Toxoplasma-like protozoan that causes spontaneous abortion and/or neonatal disease in a wide range of animals. The purpose of this study was to determine the susceptibility of primates to Neospora infection. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: In experiment 1, two rhesus macaque fetuses were inoculated in utero at gestational day 65 with 1 x 106 culture-derived Neospora tachyzoites. A control fetus was given uninfected vehicle. The fetuses were removed by hysterotomy between 13 and 22 days postinoculation. In experiment 2, two pregnant macaques were inoculated intramuscularly and intravenously on gestational day 43 with a total of 1.6 x 107 culture-derived tachyzoites. A pregnant control macaque was given uninfected vehicle. The fetuses were removed by hysterotomy between 67 to 70 days postinoculation. Fetal tissues were collected for in vitro parasite isolation, histopathology, and Neospora immunohistochemistry. Fetal blood was examined for Neospora-specific antibody titers using an indirect fluorescent antibody test. RESULTS: Neospora infections were confirmed in all fetuses that received tachyzoites either directly or via transplacental infection. In experiment 1, infected fetuses had reduced amniotic fluid volumes, marked protozoal amnionitis and dermatitis, and a mild multifocal encephalitis. Infected fetuses from experiment 2 had a chronic multifocal necrotizing nonsuppurative meningoencephalitis with microcavitation, that was confined to the cerebrum, and a mild multifocal necrotizing amnionitis. In both experiments, Neospora tachyzoites were detected in association with lesions in fetal tissues by immunohistochemistry, and the parasites were reisolated in vitro. IgG Neospora antibody titers were detected in blood from all infected fetuses, whereas Neospora-specific IgM and IgA titers were found in one and three fetuses, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that nonhuman primates are susceptible to transplacental Neospora infection. The fetal lesions after transplacental infection are similar to those induced by transplacental Toxoplasma infections in primates.
KW - Encephalitis
KW - Fetus
KW - Macaca mulatta
KW - Toxoplasma
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0028041272&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0028041272&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 8078303
AN - SCOPUS:0028041272
VL - 71
SP - 236
EP - 242
JO - Laboratory Investigation
JF - Laboratory Investigation
SN - 0023-6837
IS - 2
ER -