RT Journal Article
T1 Influence of the gestational stage on the clinical course, lesional development and parasite distribution in experimental ovine neosporosis
A1 Arranz Solís, David
A1 Benavides, Julio
A1 Regidor-Cerrillo, Javier
A1 Fuertes, Miguel
A1 Ferré Pérez, Ignacio
A1 Ferreras, Maria Del Carmen
A1 Collantes Fernández, Esther
A1 Hemphill, Andrew
A1 Pérez, Valentín
A1 Ortega Mora, Luis Miguel
AB Neospora caninum is considered one of the main causes of abortion in cattle, yet recent studies have also emphasised its relevance as an abortifacient in small ruminants. In order to gain deeper insight into the pathogenesis of ovine neosporosis, pregnant ewes were intravenously inoculated with 106 tachyzoites of the Nc-Spain7 isolate at days 40, 90 or 120 of gestation. Infection during the first term resulted in the death of all foetuses between days 19 and 21 post-infection, showing mainly necrotic lesions in foetal liver and the highest parasite DNA detection and burden in both placenta and foetal viscera. After infection at day 90, foetal death was also detected in all ewes, although later (34–48 days post-infection). In this group, lesions were mainly inflammatory. Foetal livers showed the lowest frequency of lesions, as well as the lowest parasite detection and burden. All ewes infected at day 120 delivered viable lambs, although 3 out of 9 showed weakness and recumbency. Neospora DNA was detected in all lambs but one, and parasite burden was similar to that observed in day 90 group. Lesions in this group showed more conspicuous infiltration of inflammatory cells and higher frequency in foetal brain and muscle when compared to both previous groups. These results highlight the crucial role that the stage of gestation plays on the course of ovine neosporosis, similar to that reported in bovine neosporosis, and open the doors to consider sheep as a valid model for exogenous transplacental transmission for ruminant neosporosis.
PB BMC
SN 1297-9716
YR 2015
FD 2015
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/91750
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/91750
LA eng
NO Arranz-Solís, D., Benavides, J., Regidor-Cerrillo, J. et al. Influence of the gestational stage on the clinical course, lesional development and parasite distribution in experimental ovine neosporosis. Vet Res 46, 19 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13567-014-0139-y
NO Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (España)
NO Swiss National Foundation 
NO Programa Iberoamericano de Ciencia y Tecnología para el Desarrollo
NO Junta de Castilla y León 
DS Docta Complutense
RD 25 ene 2026