Evaluation of cross immunity and histopathological findings in experimentally infected BALB/c mice with neospora caninum and besnoitia caprae

Caprine besnoitiosis is an economically important disease of goats. Neospora caninum, another coccidian parasite of worldwide distribution, infects several animal species and is a major cause of abortion in cattle. Combined infections of N. caninum and Besnoitia caprae can occur in geographical areas endemic for both species of parasite in goats. This experiment was conducted to investigate the possible cross-immunity between these two infections in experimentally infected BALB/c mice. Forty BALB/c mice were divided into four equal groups. The mice of Groups 1 and 4 were inoculated with 1x10[6] live virulent tachyzoites of N. caninum [NC-1], while animals of Groups 2 and 3 were inoculated with sterile tissue culture medium. Each mouse in Groups 1 and 2 was challenged 28 days later with 1 xl0[6] live virulent bradyzoites of-B. Caprae [BC-1]. Following the challenge, the mice in Groups 1 and 2 showed 100% morbidity and 100% mortality within 9 days post infection, while all the animals of Groups 3 and 4 remained alive. The dead animals were necropsied. The survivors [mice in Group 3 and 4] were euthanized 9 days after inoculation and the gross and histopathological lesions in different organs were investigated. Immunization and challenge experiments with lethal dose of B. caprae in the highly susceptible BALB/c mice showed no cross-protection between N. caninum and B. caprae

Seroprevalence of neospora spp. in horses in north east of Iran

Neospora caninum, an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite, is recognized as a major cause of abortion in cattle, while limited information is presently available on the seroprevalence of Neospora antibodies in horses' worldwide. The aim of the present study was to determine serologic prevalence of Neospora infection in horses in Iran. Sera from 150 horses from Mashhad suburb in Razavi Khorasan Province, northeast Iran were examined for antibodies to Neospora spp. using Neospora modified direct agglutination test [N-MAT]. Antibodies to this parasite were detected in 45 [30%] of the examined serum samples. Thirty four percent of the samples had titer of 1:40 while then reduced to 30% when 1:80 serum dilution was applied as significant cut off titer. This study is the first investigation carried out on the Neospora in horses in Iran and indicates that horses in Iran are exposed to this parasite

effects of cold injury on sensorimotor cortex of mouse brain

Cold injury has been used as a useful model for studies of traumatic brain injury. This model is used to induce brain edema. Brain edema is a pathophysiological condition of increased brain water content due to a variety of coexisting brain injuries, including ischemia, trauma, tumor and infection. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of cold injury on sensorimotor cortex of mouse. 15 male NMRI mice, 6-8 weeks old every one of them with the weight of 30-35gr [5 mice per group] were studied. To produce cold injury a metal probe cooled with liquid nitrogen and was applied to the surface of the intact skull above the parietal lobe by force of 100 gr for 30 sec. Brains were removed 72h after cold injury, 10 micro m serial sections were obtained following fixation, processing and blocking of the brain. The sections were stained using creysl fast violet. Sensorimotor cortex was recognized and 35 fields were chosen randomly to be studied. To do morphometrical study on cortex of frontal and parietal lobes, the cells with a nucleus diameter of 10 micro m were determined. The data were analyzed by means of ANOVA and TUKEY'S HSD test. The results indicated that the number of alive neurons in the model group was significantly [p<0.05] lower than that of control groups. Cold injury decreases the number of normal cells of sensory motor cortex and leads to cell death

survey on delayed hypersensitivity in the sheep immunized against theileriosis

To evaluate the response of delayed hypersensitivity in the sheep immunized against theileriosis, 80 sheep in 3 experimental groups and 3 control groups were inoculated [i. d.], in the lateral neck area with normal and 1/10 normal theilerine. The response to the theilerine, as appearance of nodule and thickening of skin at the site of inoculation, was observed and measured after 72 hours. From the vaccinated sheep, 71.42% and the recovered sheep, 80.0% showed positive reaction against theilerine, revealing 1 mm or more of thickening skin. This research resulted in understanding that firstly, dermal test can be useful for evaluation of immunity in the vaccinated animals. Secondly, the better reaction in the recovered animals could be due to the role played by the antigens of the piroplasmic form of the Theileria, in delayed hypersensitivity response