Neospora caninum
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CANINE NEOSPOROSIS |
Neospora caninum, a protozoan parasite, is the causative agent of canine neosporosis. The disease is most frequently seen in puppies and young dogs, typically causing a hind-limb paresis or ataxia, progressing to affect forelimbs, swallowing and breathing. Rigid hyperextension develops in many cases. Other clinical signs which have been reported are forelimb ataxia, head tremors, myocarditis, pneumonia and dermatitis. The disease can prove fatal in young puppies and several litter mates may be affected.
Disease is thought to occur only if infection was acquired in utero from the bitch. However, most puppies born to infected bitches will not develop disease although a proportion may be infected. It is advisable not to breed from infected bitches if possible and testing breeding bitches is recommended. Dogs can also acquire infection post-natally by eating infected tissues (most commonly from cattle). However, this route of infection does not appear to lead to disease but may result in shedding of oocysts in faeces, which can then infect cattle.
In dogs, treatment can halt or reverse the development of clinical signs, especially if begun as quickly as possible after signs appear. In vivo diagnosis of canine neosporosis is not easy and is based on history, clinical signs and serology. The clinical signs though are not unique and serology is an important aid to diagnosis.
The Veterinary Parasitology Group initiated research into canine neosporosis in Europe and is a world authority on this disease.
Neospora caninum testing at TEST-A-PET
Antibody Test - canineTEST-A-PET IFAT test detects specific IgG antibodies to Neospora caninum.
Fluorescence at dilution of 1:50 is considered positive. Most clinical cases of neoporosis have titres of > 1:800.
Sample required: 0.5ml serum.
Results are available within two working days of us receiving the sample.
Antibody Test - other species
TEST-A-PET Inhibition ELISA detects specific IgG antibodies to Neospora caninum.
Samples with a percentage inhibition value of > 10% are considered positive.
Sample required: 0.5ml serum.
Please contact us for further details.
Links
For details on submitting samples for Neospora caninum testing, please click here.
For further advice on diagnosis and treatment, please click here.
To see our “in-focus” article on canine neosporosis, please click here.
For further reading on canine neosporosis, please click here.
