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Neospora caninum : detection in wild rabbits and investigation of co-infection with Toxoplasma gondii by PCR analysis

Hughes, JM; Thomasson, D; Craig, PS; Georgin, SD; Pickles, A; Hide, G

Authors

JM Hughes

D Thomasson

PS Craig

SD Georgin

A Pickles



Abstract

Neospora caninum is an important pathogen of cattle causing significant economic loss. There is much current interest in wild animal reservoirs for this parasite. The role of the rabbit in this is currently unknown. DNA samples from the brains of wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) collected from the Malham area of the Yorkshire dales were investigated by species-specific PCR for the presence of N. caninum and Toxoplasma gondii. We found prevalences of N. caninum of 10.5% (6/57) and T. gondii of 68.4% (39/57) with 8.8% (5/57) co-infected. Strain typing of T. gondii positive rabbits revealed strain types I-III were present in this population. Investigation of tissue distribution determined N. caninum DNA was most often detected in the brain and heart, less often in the tongue and not in the liver. To our knowledge this is the first report of N. caninum detection in naturally infected wild rabbits.

Citation

Hughes, J., Thomasson, D., Craig, P., Georgin, S., Pickles, A., & Hide, G. (2008). Neospora caninum : detection in wild rabbits and investigation of co-infection with Toxoplasma gondii by PCR analysis. Experimental Parasitology, 120(3), 255-260. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exppara.2008.07.011

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Jan 1, 2008
Deposit Date Sep 12, 2014
Journal Experimental Parasitology
Print ISSN 0014-4894
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 120
Issue 3
Pages 255-260
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exppara.2008.07.011
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.exppara.2008.07.011