Sheep abortions associated with Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii infections in multiple flocks from Southern Brazil

This study verified the occurrence of these diseases in sheep fetuses from Santa Catarina State, Southern Brazil from 2015 to 2022. Sheep fetuses were necropsied with organ sampling for histopathology, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) forNeospora caninum andToxoplasma gondii using the Nc5 and SAG2 targets, respectively, in frozen brain tissue. Microbiological culture and RT-PCR forPestivirus were conducted to discard other abortion causes. One positive fetus for toxoplasmosis was genotyped using multiplex multilocus nested PCR-RFLP (Mn-PCR-RFLP) with ten genetic markers. Fifty-five sheep fetuses were evaluated, with 10 (18.2%) cases of neosporosis and 7 (12.7%) cases of toxoplasmosis, comprising six and four flocks, respectively. Macroscopically, neosporosis abortions exhibited fetal mummification, maceration, and arthrogryposis. Toxoplasmosis abortions showed fetal mummification and maceration. The neosporosis abortions included lymphoplasmacytic myositis (70%; 7/10) and myocarditis (60%; 6/10), in addition to necrotizing encephalitis and gliosis (50%; 5/10). Toxoplasmosis abortions included lymphoplasmacytic necrotizing encephalitis (71.4%; 5/7), lymphoplasmacytic myositis (42.8%, 3/7), and myocarditis (14.3%; 1/7). Through PCR,N. caninum andT. gondii were detected in 6 (60%) and 5 (71.4%) fetuses, respectively. In one fetus,T. gondii genotyping was conducted, which was characterized as atypical genotype ToxoDB #98. All of the cases were negative forPestivirus and bacter...
Source: Veterinary Research Communications - Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research