Neosporosis is caused by a protozoan parasite called Neospora caninum, it can be found in cattle, horses, dogs, and other animals but it is a major interest to us today because dog happens to be a definitive host of the parasite, and like we know, dogs are human's best friend and in most cases, most favorite pets, so it is interesting to know what this parasite is about and the danger it does to them.
This infection is not very common and can be acquired through the ingestion of contaminated water or food, the transmission is also possible through the ingestion of infected tissues. It can also be transferred from mother to fetus through the placenta before the offspring is born(we will be discussing more about the transmission later). The disease is common for causing pregnancy loss in cows, especially those who reside on the same farmland as dogs.
It is not very common for adult dogs to show any sign of infection, but the possibility of noticing signs in adult dogs is possible. A severe case of infection is noticeable amongst young puppies, leading to the development of partial paralysis of the legs, especially the hind legs. The paralysis is usually a progressive one, leading to muscle contraction.
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An affected dog usually has a poor physical presentation, neurological signs like brain and spinal cord inflammation, skin inflammation accompanied by sores, inflammation of pneumonia, liver, and heart. When the situation is not treated on time, it gets worse with severe signs.
There are so many aspects of Neospora caninum that are still yet to be revealed, especially the sexual stage of the parasite evolution, experts believe that more studies are needed in the clarification of the enter enteroepithelial cycle, and to also elude the existing interaction between the dog and the parasite in a natural, and not in an experimental form.
The transmission of Neospora caninum happens in two forms; the horizontal and vertical form. Vertical type of transmission happens during the terminal stages of gestation, through the transplacental transmission to the fetus or postnatally through the transmission of tachyzoites through breastfeeding.
Horizontal form of transmission happens after there has been ingestion of contaminated water when the water contains sporulated oocysts or an infected tissue which could be gotten through undercooked or raw meat, or fetal membranes of intermediate hosts.
There is a higher chance that dogs who are older than 6 months can develop the disease through the reactivation of a latent chronic infection. The affected dogs could be obtunded and develop ataxia, head tilting, hypermetria, circling, head tremors, abnormal cranial nerve function, nystagmus, anisocoria, tetraparesis, and seizures.
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Most cases of neosporosis abortions happen in mid-late gestation, congenitally infected calves could be born weak or born with neurological deficits. However, most cases of congenital infections are subclinical.
Since neosporosis is not the only cause of abortion, diagnostic efforts have to be carried out to identify the necessary causes of abortion, every diagnostic effort should be centered around the possible causes.
While there is no approved treatment for cattle, different antibiotics have been used for dogs, and there has been a record of success. There are also no available Neospora vaccines for dogs and cattle, but limiting the risk of Neospora transmission is a very helpful goal, complete eradication from an affected herd is not practical, the foodstuffs used to feed canines should be carefully asssed, and every form of contamination avoided.
Areas, where foodstuffs are stored for these animals, need to be carefully protected, if possible with the installation of automatic gates, and proper inspection should be carried out on machinery as they come in and go out.
Upon the passing of an animal, both the body and its placenta should be discarded in a way that dogs are prevented from ver ingesting them talk more of having to shed Neospora oocysts on the farm.
Final Note.
Neosporosis is a strong infection with a strong effct on pets and some other animals, available control measures should be focused on horizontal and vertical transmission, to limit environmental contamination.
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