Canine neosporosis: a case report and literature review

Abstract

A three-year-old, intact female vizsla presented for signs of an acute-onset, progressive spinal cord disease. Postmortem examination revealed multifocal central nervous system (CNS) lesions, severe pneumonia with pulmonary edema, and congestion of the liver. Protozoal cysts were found in multiple spinal cord and brain stem sections. Immunohistochemical staining positively identified these cysts as Neospora caninum. A literature review of Neospora caninum infection in the dog with summary of the pathogenesis, clinical signs, diagnostic evaluation, treatment success, and pathology is presented to provide the clinician with an overview of this increasingly prevalent disease.