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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.
The sexual phase of replication takes place in the gastrointestinal tract of dogs, oocysts are passed in the faeces which then develop into sporozoites and are infective.
Transplacental infection results in congenital infection of puppies which is the most typical presentation of the disease. More than one puppy in a litter may be affected, although this may not occur simultaneously. Successive litters can be affected, therefore a dam whelping an infected litter should not be allowed to breed again.
Other methods of infection include ingestion of sporulated oocysts from dog faecal matter and ingestion of tissue cysts in the tissues of intermediate or incidental hosts, for example bovine placenta.
Signalment
Neosporosis has been reported worldwide; puppies are most frequently affected and hunting dogs are also over represented.
Diagnosis
Clinical Signs
Young dogs:
- Ascending paralysis
- Muscle atrophy
- Rigid limbs, affecting hind limbs more than forelimbs
- Dysphagia
- Ataxia
- Death
Older dogs:
- Seizures
- Tremors
- Cerebellar disease
- Myocarditis
Treatment
Prognosis
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