Histologically, immunohistochemically, ultrastructurally, and molecularly confirmed neosporosis abortion in an aborted equine fetus

Joseph A. Anderson, Derron A. Alves, Camila K. Cerqueira-Cézar, Andressa F. da Silva, Fernando H.A. Murata, Jamie K. Norris, Daniel K. Howe, Jitender P. Dubey

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Neosporosis is a common cause of abortion in cattle worldwide but is rare in horses. Here, the first case of histologically, ultrastructurally, immunohistochemically, and molecularly confirmed equine abortion caused by neosporosis is reported. Samples of lung, heart, liver, skeletal muscle, tongue, brain, and the placenta from a female fetus aborted at 280 days of gestation were fixed in formalin and submitted for diagnosis. Histologically, there was disseminated neosporosis with severe lesions in lungs, liver and the heart. Protozoal tachyzoites in all tissues reacted with polyclonal anti-Neospora caninum rabbit antibodies. Transmission electron microscopic observation on lung tissue revealed tachyzoites consistent with Neospora, including many rhoptries. Polymerase-chain reaction (PCR)using primers designed to amplify the rRNA gene internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1)of the Sarcocystidae was performed on DNA extracted from fetal tissues. Comparison of the ITS1 amplified from the foal tissue to sequences available in GenBank revealed 100% sequence identity to the ITS1 from three isolates of Neospora hughesi.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)20-24
Number of pages5
JournalVeterinary Parasitology
Volume270
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2019

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019

Keywords

  • Diagnosis
  • Horse
  • Molecular
  • Neospora, abortion
  • Tachyzoites

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Parasitology
  • General Veterinary

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