Neosporosis - Dog

Description

Neosporosis is the disease caused by the intracellular protozoa Neospora caninum. The dog is the definitive host, cattle are the intermediate host and other mamalian species may act as incidental hosts. In the past N.caninum has been confused with T.gondii because they are similar morphologically, but advancements in detection methods has made the two distinguishable.

Signalment

Puppies are most frequently affected. Hunting dogs are also over represented.

Diagnosis

Clinical Signs

• Ascending paralysis
• Muscle atrophy
• Rigid limbs, affecting hind limbs more than forelimbs

• • Occurs mainly in puppies
  • Causes ascending paralysis, especially of hind limbs, with muscle wasting
  • Causes sudden collapse due to myocarditis
  • More than 1 puppy in a litter may be affected, although this may not occur simultaneously
  • Successive litters affected

References

• Merck & Co (2008) The Merck Veterinary Manual (Eighth Edition) Merial
• Nelson, R.W. and Couto, C.G. (2009) Small Animal Internal Medicine (Fourth Edition) Mosby Elsevier
• Tilley, L.P. and Smith, F.W.K.(2004)The 5-minute Veterinary Consult (Third edition) Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins