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Abortion and foetal lesions induced by Neospora caninum in experimentally infected water buffalos (Bubalus bubalis)

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Abstract

The water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is an important species in several countries for its milk and meat production, as well as for transport and other agricultural activities. It is, in general, considered more resistant than cattle to different parasitic diseases, also less demanding for forage quality. It has been postulated that buffalo may be resistant to abortion caused by neosporosis, because of high serological prevalences found in buffalo herds from different localities, with no description of Neospora caninum-related abortion. Recent studies have demonstrated the potential impact of neosporosis in pregnant water buffalo cows. In this work, three pregnant buffalo cows were experimentally infected with Nc-1 strain of N. caninum, and abortion was detected 35 days post-infection. Molecular and histopathological results found in post-mortem tissues are described and discussed, confirming the susceptibility of water buffalos to abortion caused by N. caninum.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the “Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia”, University of São Paulo, Brazil, for experimental sites and structures and the Moredun Research Institute, Scotland, for the histological and immunohistochemistry analysis. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of São Paulo and funded by São Paulo Research Foundation-FAPESP, Brazil. S.M. Gennari and R.M. Soares are in receipt of a fellowship from CNPq, Brazil.

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  1. Andreas L. Chryssafidis

    Present address: UCD School of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Science Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Co., Dublin, Ireland, D04

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Professor Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil

    Andreas L. Chryssafidis, Rodrigo M. Soares & Solange M. Gennari

  2. Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland, EH26 0PZ, UK

    Germán Cantón, Francesca Chianini & Elisabeth A. Innes

  3. Departamento de Reprodução Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Duque de Caxias Norte, 225, Pirassununga, SP, 13635-000, Brazil

    Ed H. Madureira

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  1. Andreas L. Chryssafidis
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  2. Germán Cantón
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  3. Francesca Chianini
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Correspondence to Andreas L. Chryssafidis.

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Chryssafidis, A.L., Cantón, G., Chianini, F. et al. Abortion and foetal lesions induced by Neospora caninum in experimentally infected water buffalos (Bubalus bubalis). Parasitol Res 114, 193–199 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-014-4178-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-014-4178-0

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