The prevalence ofNeospora caninumand co-infection withToxoplasma gondiiby PCR analysis in naturally occurring mammal populations

Abstract

Neospora caninumandToxoplasma gondiiare closely related intracellular protozoan parasites associated with bovine and ovine abortion respectively. Little is known about the extent ofNeospora/Toxoplasmaco-infection in naturally infected populations of animals. Using nested PCR techniques, based on primers from the Nc5 region ofN. caninumand SAG1 forT. gondii, the prevalence ofN. caninumand its co-infection withT. gondiiwere investigated in populations ofMus domesticus,Rattus norvegicusand aborted lambs (Ovis aries). A low frequency of infection withN. caninumwas detected in theMus domesticus(3%) andRattus norvegicus(4·4%) populations. A relatively high frequency of infection withN. caninumwas detected in the brains of aborted lambs (18·9%). There was no significant relationship betweenN. caninumandT. gondiico-infection. Investigation of the tissue distribution ofNeospora, in aborted lambs, showed thatNeosporacould not be detected in tissues other than brain and this was in contrast toToxoplasmawhere the parasite could be frequently detected in a range of tissues.