RT Journal Article
T1 Crosstalk between Neospora caninum and the bovine host at the maternal-foetal interface determines the outcome of infection
A1 Jiménez-Pelayo, Laura
A1 García-Sánchez, Marta
A1 Regidor-Cerrillo, Javier
A1 Gutiérrez-Expósito, Daniel
A1 Espinosa, José
A1 Benavides, Julio
A1 Osoro, Koldo
A1 Pfarrer, Christiane
A1 Collantes Fernández, Esther
A1 Horcajo Iglesias, María Del Pilar
A1 Ortega Mora, Luis Miguel
AB Neospora caninum is an apicomplexan cyst-forming parasite that is considered one of the main causes of abortion. The pathogenic mechanisms associated with parasite virulence at the maternal-foetal interface that are responsible for the outcome of infection are largely unknown. Here, utilizing placentomes from cattle experimentally infected with high-virulence (Nc-Spain7) and low-virulence (Nc-Spain1H) isolates, we studied key elements of the innate and adaptive immune responses, as well as components of the extracellular matrix (ECM), at 10 and 20 days post-infection (dpi). The low-virulence isolate elicited a robust immune response characterized by upregulation of genes involved in pathogen recognition, chemokines and pro-inflammatory cytokines, crucial for its adequate control. In addition, Nc-Spain1H triggered the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines and other mechanisms implicated in the maintenance of ECM integrity to ensure foetal survival. In contrast, local immune responses were initially (10 dpi) impaired by Nc-Spain7, allowing parasite multiplication. Subsequently (20 dpi), a predominantly pro-inflammatory Th1-based response and an increase in leucocyte infiltration were observed. Moreover, Nc-Spain7-infected placentomes from animals carrying non-viable foetuses exhibited higher expression of the IL-8, TNF-α, iNOS and SERP-1 genes and lower expression of the metalloproteases and their inhibitors than Nc-Spain7-infected placentomes from animals carrying viable foetuses. In addition, profound placental damage characterized by an alteration in the ECM organization in necrotic foci, which could contribute to foetal death, was found. Two different host-parasite interaction patterns were observed at the bovine placenta as representative examples of different evolutionary strategies used by this parasite for transmission to offspring.
PB BMC
SN 1297-9716
YR 2020
FD 2020
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/96867
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/96867
LA eng
NO Jiménez-Pelayo, L., García-Sánchez, M., Collantes-Fernández, E. et al. Crosstalk between Neospora caninum and the bovine host at the maternal-foetal interface determines the outcome of infection. Vet Res 51, 83 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13567-020-00803-y
NO Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (España)
NO Comunidad de Madrid 
DS Docta Complutense
RD 6 abr 2025