Early onset of clinical leishmaniosis in a litter of pups with evidence of in utero transmission.

BACKGROUND: Canine leishmaniosis (CanL) is a zoonotic disease caused by Leishmania infantum. Although usually transmitted by phlebotomine sand flies, infection by vertical transmission and by blood transfusion have also been reported. METHODS: We describe the very early onset of clinical leishmaniosis, starting from 2 months of age, in a litter of pups born to an infected dam and sire. Seven pups from the litter of nine living in different households showed alopecic, exfoliative dermatitis and ulcerative cutaneous lesions. All pups and both parents were tested on at least one occasion both serologically, by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the Leishmania ribosomal operon internal transcribed spacer 1 region and a short fragment of the kinetoplast minicircle; positive amplicons were sequenced. RESULTS: All nine pups were PCR positive for L. infantum verified by DNA sequencing, seven were positive by conjunctival, five by blood, four by lymph node, and one by skin PCR from an ulcerative lesion. Both pups with no clinical signs were seronegative, while five of the seven pups with dermatologic abnormalities were seropositive by ELISA. The sire had typical clinical dermatologic and visceral findings of CanL, was seropositive and PCR positive for L. infantum in the lymph node and fluid from the vas deferens tested after the testes were removed by castration. The dam was sub-clinically infected and seronegative, but positive by blood, lymph node and conjunctival PCR for L. infantum. Allopurinol administered to all clinically affected dogs resulted in clinical recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Infection with L. infantum in both parents, the very early age of clinical onset among most of the pups, and the fact that the puppies were born and detected with signs of leishmaniosis in the winter, which is a season without sand fly activity in Israel, strongly suggest vertical transmission. Awareness of the possibility of vertical transmission of L. infantum and infection in littermates should be increased. It is recommended that littermates of young dogs with clinical leishmaniosis should be tested for sub-clinical infection as they may also be infectious to sand flies and thus to other dogs and to humans. Restricting the mating of infected bitches should also be considered to prevent the vertical transmission of the infection.

Ultrastructure and cytochemistry of intrauterine embryonic and larval stages of Ityogonimus lorum (Digenea: Brachylaimidae) involving transitory development of ciliated miracidia.

Results of the present study provide ultrastructural evidence that miracidial morphogenesis is fully completed within the intrauterine eggs while in the most posterior uterine regions of Ityogonimus lorum, a digenean parasite of an Iberian mole, Talpa occidentalis (Eulipotyphla, Talpidae). Using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the ultrastructural characteristics of diverse cell types and their organelles of these developing embryos and fully formed miracidia within the eggshell were examined. The eggshell and embryonic envelopes are similar to those described previously by many authors for other digeneans. However, the developing miracidia are unique among previously described digeneans in possessing transitory cilia during larvigenesis, but completely lacking cilia in fully formed miracidium larvae. The evidence for completion of miracidial maturation in intrauterine eggs is based on the presence of the following structures: (1) transitional stage of ciliated differentiating miracidial epithelium; (2) apical and lateral glands, characteristic for digenean miracidia; and (3) fully developed germinative cells grouped together in the germinative sac localized in the posterior region of the miracidium. The protonephridial system with its characteristic flame cells and the nervous system with diverse types of neurons and nerve centers, which are characteristic for other digenean species reported until now, are absent from all these developmental stages of I. lorum. Based on these observations, we hypothesize that the life cycle of I. lorum is entirely terrestrial, involving passive transmission by ingestion of eggs containing unciliated miracidia to the first intermediate host.

Bovine besnoitiosis in an endemically infected dairy cattle herd in Italy: serological and clinical observations, risk factors, and effects on reproductive and productive performances.

Bovine besnoitiosis (Besnoitia besnoiti) is an emerging parasitic disease of cattle in Europe. This study reports a case of bovine besnoitiosis in a dairy farm housing 217 cattle in Italy. A serological screening was performed on the whole herd using the recommended approach of ELISA and confirmatory Western Blot. Seropositive animals were clinically examined to reveal symptoms and lesions of besnoitiosis. Risk factors and the effects of the parasite infection on reproductive and productive performances were evaluated. Histopathology and molecular analyses on tissues from a slaughtered cow affected by the chronic phase of the disease were carried out. An overall seroprevalence of 23.5%, which increased up to 43.5% considering only cows, was recorded. Clinical examination of 33 of the seropositive cows evidenced the presence of tissue cysts in at least one of the typical localizations (sclera, vulva, or skin) in 25 animals. Statistical analysis did not evidence any significative impact of the parasite infection on herd efficiency; however, a decrease of productive parameters was recorded in cows showing cutaneous cysts. Concerning the chronically affected cow, histopathology revealed B. besnoiti tissue cysts in the skin of the neck, rump, hind legs, eyelid and vulva, in the muzzle, in mucosal membranes of the upper respiratory tract, and in the lungs. Parasite DNA was detected also in masseter muscles, tonsils, mediastinal lymph nodes, liver, cardiac muscle, aorta wall, ovaries, uterus, and vulva. Bovine besnoitiosis continues to spread in the Italian cattle population. Breeders and veterinarians should be aware of this parasitic disease, and control programs should be developed based on surveillance through a diagnostic procedure including both clinical examination and laboratory tests.

A Rare Case of Secondary Hydatid Cyst: Uterus and Colon Locations in the Same Patient

The aim of the present study was to present a case with secondary hydatid cysts in both uterus and colon. The patient was a 71-year-old female living in Hakkari, Turkey. She was admitted to the Van Yuzuncu Yil University Faculty of Medicine Medical Center with complaints of chronic abdominal and pelvic pain, and swelling in the abdomen. First, the sagittal T2 weighted magnetic rezonance imaging (MR) showed a type-3 cyst hydatid with daughter vesicles located at the posterior of uterus. Later, MR revealed a type-2 cystic lesion with detached membrane adhered to the anterior wall of colon and it was reported to be associated with abdomen. When the previous liver surgery history of the patient was kept in mind, the new finding was suggestive of a secondary cystic hydatid . In conclusion, it is possible to diagnose secondary cystic echinococcosis in patients with a history of primary cyst surgery in liver or any other organ by combining the symptoms and imaging findings.

Histopathological lesions in reproductive organs, distal spinal cord and peripheral nerves of horses naturally infected with Trypanosoma equiperdum.

BACKGROUND: Dourine, a venereal transmitted trypanosomosis caused by Trypanosoma equiperdum, has different clinical signs related to the reproductive and nervous system. Pathologic tissue changes associated with the disease are poorly described. The present study describes the histopathological lesions in naturally T. equiperdum-infected horses in the chronical stage of dourine. RESULTS: Four chronically dourine diseased horses underwent a post-mortem examination. They were Woo test negative, but CATT/T. evansi positive, had a low packed cell volume (PCV) and exhibited obvious clinical signs of dourine. Post-mortem examination did not reveal gross lesions in the organs assumed to be responsible for the symptomatology. On histopathology, genital organs were affected, with mononuclear cell infiltration and erosions and degeneration of seminiferous tubules and perivascular lymphoplasmacytic cuffing in the uterus. In the nervous system, mononuclear cell infiltration was located in peripheral nerves, ganglia and in the spinal cord, leading to axonal degeneration. Real-time PCR using ITS primer revealed the presence of trypanosomes in these organs and conventional PCRs using maxicircle and RoTat1.2 primers further confirmed the involvement of T. equiperdum since the DNAs from the vagina, testicle, distal spinal cord, sciatic and obturator nerves found to be positive for maxicircle and negative for RoTat 1.2. CONCLUSIONS: The histopathological lesions in the spinal cord and peripheral nerves explain the incoordination of the hind legs in T. equiperdum-infected horses, whilst its presence in the genital tract exemplifies the venereal transmission.

The first reported case of advanced aelurostrongylosis in Eurasian badger (Meles meles, L. 1758) in Bosnia and Herzegovina: histopathological and parasitological findings.

This paper represents the first description of advanced aelurostrongylosis in the Eurasian badger (Меles meles, L. 1758) from Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is an autochthonous species of the country. An adult female badger was found dead on a road; the cause of death was trauma but the emphasis in the paper is on severe verminous pneumonia caused by metastrongylids from genus Aelurostrongylus spp. This parasitological and histopathological finding confirms the presence of Aelurostrongylus in mustelids in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Balkans.

Transplacental transmission of Theileria orientalis occurs at a low rate in field-affected cattle: infection in utero does not appear to be a major cause of abortion.

BACKGROUND: Bovine theileriosis, caused by the haemoprotozoan Theileria orientalis, is an emerging disease in East Asia and Australasia. Previous studies have demonstrated transplacental transmission of various Theileria spp. but molecular confirmation of transplacental transmission of T. orientalis has never been confirmed in the field. In this study, cow-calf (< 48 h old) pairs were sampled across 3 herds; opportunistic samples from aborted foetuses or stillborn calves were also examined. Molecular (multiplex qPCR) and serological (ELISA) methods were used to determine infection prevalence and the presence of anti-Theileria antibodies in each herd. In addition, pregnant heifers and foetal calves were sampled at abattoir and tested for the presence of T. orientalis by qPCR. RESULTS: The qPCR results indicated that, even though there was a high prevalence of T. orientalis infection in cows, the rate of transplacental transmission to their calves was low, with only one newborn calf from one herd and one foetus from the abattoir testing positive for T. orientalis DNA. Five aborted foetuses and stillborn calves, 3 of which were derived from a herd experiencing a high number of clinical theileriosis cases at the time of sampling, all tested negative for T. orientalis by qPCR. This suggests that in utero infection of calves with T. orientalis may not be a major driver of abortions during theileriosis outbreaks. Temporal monitoring of 20 calves born to T. orientalis-positive mothers indicated that T. orientalis was detectable in most calves between 10 and 27 days post-partum, consistent with prior field studies on adult cattle introduced to Theileria-affected herds. There was a positive correlation between the ELISA ratio of newborn calves and their mothers within 48 h of calving; however, maternal antibodies were only detectable in some calves and only for 4-4.5 weeks post-partum. All calves displayed high parasite loads peaking at 4-8 weeks post-partum, with only some calves subsequently mounting a detectable adaptive antibody response. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate transplacental transmission of T. orientalis appears to play only a minor role in persistence of T. orientalis infection in the field; however calves are highly susceptible to developing high level T. orientalis infections at 4-8 weeks of age regardless of whether maternal antibodies are present post-partum.

Vertical transmission of Anaplasma platys and Leishmania infantum in dogs during the first half of gestation.

BACKGROUND: Leishmania infantum is a canine zoonotic vector-borne protozoan pathogen transmitted by phlebotomine sand flies, whereas Anaplasma platys is a bacterium most likely transmitted by ticks. While vertical transmission of L. infantum from pregnant bitches to their offspring has been documented, thus far no studies have explored the possibility of vertical transmission of A. platys in dogs. This study investigated the occurrence of vertical transmission of L. infantum and A. platys in sheltered dogs during the first half of gestation, in an area of southern Italy characterised by a high incidence of infection by both pathogens. METHODS: The study population included 20 bitches (n = 10 pregnant, at 25-35 days of pregnancy; n = 10 non-pregnant), all subjected to ovariohysterectomy, which were examined for the presence of L. infantum and A. platys via cytological screening of bone marrow and whole blood samples. Infection by L. infantum and A. platys was also tested by immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) targeting both pathogens. Selected tissue samples (n = 210) collected during surgical procedures from bitches and foetuses (n = 20) were assessed for the presence of L. infantum and A. platys by qPCR targeting a fragment of the kinetoplast minicircle DNA (kDNA) and the 16S rRNA gene, respectively. RESULTS: Leishmania infantum DNA was not amplified from either uteri or ovaries from pregnant bitches or foetal tissue samples, whereas a subset of ovarian (n = 2) and uterine (n = 4) tissue samples from non-pregnant bitches were infected, with parasite loads of up to 3.09 × 10 and 7.51 parasite/PCR reaction, respectively. Conversely, uterine (n = 10) and ovarian (n = 8) tissues from both pregnant and non-pregnant bitches, together with a subset (n = 5) of foetal tissue samples were qPCR positive for A. platys. Leishmania infantum and A. platys nucleic acids were amplified from two uteri from non-pregnant bitches, with parasite loads of up to 2.32 × 10(-3) and 2.05 parasite/per PCR reaction, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Results from this study suggest that, in contrast to L. infantum, A. platys can be transmitted from pregnant dogs to their offspring during the first half of gestation. This hypothesis remains to be verified, for instance via direct observation of parasites in postpartum foetal tissues.

Extraintestinal oxyuriasis - report of three cases and review of literature.

Extraintestinal oxyuriasis, in our experience with three affected women of fertile age, presented itself as a solitary fibrotic nodular lesion, with a varying location. The sites of location were: parietal peritoneum, serous surface of the uterus and wall of the uterine tube. The size of the nodules was 5 to 10 mm. Histologically, the lesions were hypocellular fibrotic nodules with a variable amount of neutrophils and amorphous eosinophilic material in the center, harbouring eggs of the parasite and remnants of pinworm cuticle. All three lesions were asymptomatic, only being discovered incidentally during the operations for unrelated conditions. Their peroperative recovery by a surgeon did not alter the course of surgery. These findings document the ability of pinworms to migrate into the abdominal cavity via the female genital tract.

Primary uterine hydatid cyst: a case report.

Echinococcosis, which is caused by echinococcus granulosus, is also known as cystic hydatid disease, unilocular echinococcosis or cystic echinococcosis. Cystic echinococcosis is an alarming public health problem in some countries. Although the liver and lung are the organs involved most commonly by the disease, it may appear rarely in other tissues as a primary disease. Here, we present a 66-year-old patient who is invoved in farm work work. A Uterine multiseptate hydatid cyst was found on radiological investigations and the patient underwent surgery. A total hysterectomy was carried out. There were no postoperative complications.

Characterization of the inflammatory response in the uteri of cows infected naturally by Neospora caninum.

Bovine neosporosis manifests during gestation, when the fetus may be vulnerable to pathogens. Experimental studies of Neospora caninum-infected cattle have been performed, but little is known about the in-utero inflammatory response. The aim of this study was to characterize the inflammatory response in the uteri of pregnant and non-pregnant cows infected naturally with N. caninum. Four groups of seven animals were studied. Two groups consisted of N. caninum-seropositive pregnant and non-pregnant cows and the other two groups contained N. caninum-seronegative pregnant and non-pregnant cows. Uterine and placental samples were subjected to immunohistochemistry using antibodies specific for N. caninum, CD4, CD8, CD14 and CD21. The non-pregnant seropositive and seronegative groups did not show a difference (P >0.05) in the types of cells present. There were more lymphocytes in the uteri of the seropositive pregnant animals (P <0.05) than in the seronegative pregnant animals, but this was not considered to be consistent with an inflammatory process. N. caninum cysts were detected in eight seropositive cows; five were non-pregnant and three were pregnant. CD4(+) T cells were distributed in the endometrium and myometrium of the non-pregnant cows and were sparse in the placentomes of pregnant cows. CD8(+) T cells were distributed in a similar manner, but were present in smaller number. There were no cells expressing CD14 or CD21. The results of the study suggest that there is no consistent uterine inflammatory response against N. caninum in naturally infected animals.

An atypical genotype of Toxoplasma gondii as a cause of mortality in Hector's dolphins (Cephalorhynchus hectori).

Hector's dolphins (Cephalorhynchus hectori) are a small endangered coastal species that are endemic to New Zealand. Anthropogenic factors, particularly accidental capture in fishing nets, are believed to be the biggest threat to survival of this species. The role of infectious disease as a cause of mortality has not previously been well investigated. This study investigates Toxoplasma gondii infection in Hector's dolphins, finding that 7 of 28 (25%) dolphins examined died due to disseminated toxoplasmosis, including 2 of 3 Maui's dolphins, a critically endangered sub-species. A further 10 dolphins had one or more tissues that were positive for the presence of T. gondii DNA using PCR. Genotyping revealed that 7 of 8 successfully amplified isolates were an atypical Type II genotype. Fatal cases had necrotising and haemorrhagic lesions in the lung (n=7), lymph nodes (n=6), liver (n=4) and adrenals (n=3). Tachyzoites and tissue cysts were present in other organs including the brain (n=5), heart (n=1), stomach (n=1) and uterus (n=1) with minimal associated inflammatory response. One dolphin had a marked suppurative metritis in the presence of numerous intra-epithelial tachyzoites. No dolphins had underlying morbillivirus infection. This study provides the first evidence that infectious agents could be important in the population decline of this species, and highlights the need for further research into the route of entry of T. gondii organisms into the marine environment worldwide.

Ultrastructure of vitellogenesis and vitellocytes in the trypanorhynch cestode Aporhynchus menezesi, a parasite of the velvet belly lanternshark Etmopterus spinax.

This is the first TEM examination of vitellogenesis in the cestode Aporhynchus menezesi, a parasite of the velvet belly lanternshark Etmopterus spinax and a member of a little-studied trypanorhynch family, the Aporhynchidae. The synthetic activity of vitellocytes plays two important functions in the developmental biology of cestodes: (1) their shell-globules serve in eggshell formation; and (2) their accumulated reserves of glycogen and lipids represent a food source for the developing embryo. In A. menezesi, vitelline follicles consist of cells at various stages of development, from peripheral, immature cells of the gonial type to mature cells towards the centre of the follicle. These stages are: (I) immature; (II) early differentiation; (III) advanced maturation; and (IV) mature. Gradual changes involved in this process occur within each stage. Vitellogenesis involves: (1) an increase in cell volume; (2) the development of a smooth endoplasmic reticulum and an accelerated formation and accumulation of both unsaturated and saturated lipid droplets, along with their continuous enlargement and fusion; (3) the formation of individual ß-glycogen particles and their accumulation in the form of glycogen islands scattered among lipid droplets in the cytoplasm of maturing and mature vitellocytes; (4) the rapid accumulation of large, moderately saturated lipid droplets accompanied by dense accumulations of ß-glycogen along with proteinaceous shell-globules or shell-globule clusters in the peripheral layer during the advanced stage of maturation; (5) the development of cisternae of granular endoplasmic reticulum that produce dense, proteinaceous shell-globules; (6) the development of Golgi complexes engaged in the packaging of this material; and (7) the progressive and continuous enlargement of shell-globules into very large clusters in the peripheral layer during the advanced stage of maturation. Vitellogenesis in A. menezesi, only to some extent, resembles that previously described for four other trypanorhynchs. It differs in: (i) the reversed order of secretory activities in the differentiating vitellocytes, namely the accumulation of large lipid droplets accompanied by glycogenesis or ß-glycogen formation during early differentiation (stage II), i.e. before the secretory activity, which is predominantly protein synthesis for shell-globule formation (stage III); (ii) the very heavy accumulation of large lipid droplets during the final stage of cytodifferentiation (stage IV); and (iii) the small number of ß-glycogen particles present in mature vitellocytes. Ultracytochemical staining with PA-TCH-SP for glycogen proved positive for a small number of ß-glycogen particles in differentiating and mature vitellocytes. Hypotheses, concerning the interrelationships of patterns of vitellogenesis, possible modes of egg formation, embryonic development and life-cycles, are commented upon.

Determination of presence of Tritrichomonas foetus in uterine lavages from cows with reproductive problems.

The aim of this study was to determine the presence of Tritrichomonas foetus in two dairy herds on the Altiplano Cundiboyacense. Twenty-one low-volume uterine lavages from cows with a history of reproductive problems in two dairy herds located in the municipality of Sibaté (Cundinamarca) and Ventaquemada (Boyacá) were evaluated. In the first herd, 10 cows were sampled and in the second, 11 cows, based on three inclusion criteria. The uterine lavages were obtained through infusion of physiological saline solution into the uterine body. The samples were centrifuged and seeded in Tritrichomonas basal medium for 10-15 days at 37 ºC. The protozoa were evaluated on the day of sampling and 10 and 15 days after incubation by means of direct viewing under a dark-field microscope. Positive samples were stained with Wright and Lugol to identify the morphological characteristics. This study showed that T. foetus was present in 61.8% of the animals sampled. The determination that T. foetus was present in 61.8% of the samples analyzed is a significant finding given that in the herds evaluated, this agent had not previously been diagnosed.

Determination of presence of Tritrichomonas foetus in uterine lavages from cows with reproductive problems / Determinação da presença de Tritrichomonas foetus em lavados uterinos de vacas com problemas reprodutivos

The aim of this study was to determine the presence of Tritrichomonasfoetus in two dairy herds on the Altiplano Cundiboyacense. Twenty-one low-volume uterine lavages from cows with a history of reproductive problems in two dairy herds located in the municipality of Sibaté (Cundinamarca) and Ventaquemada (Boyacá) were evaluated. In the first herd, 10 cows were sampled and in the second, 11 cows, based on three inclusion criteria. The uterine lavages were obtained through infusion of physiological saline solution into the uterine body. The samples were centrifuged and seeded in Tritrichomonas basal medium for 10-15 days at 37 ºC. The protozoa were evaluated on the day of sampling and 10 and 15 days after incubation by means of direct viewing under a dark-field microscope. Positive samples were stained with Wright and Lugol to identify the morphological characteristics. This study showed that T. foetus was present in 61.8% of the animals sampled. The determination that T. foetus was present in 61.8% of the samples analyzed is a significant finding given that in the herds evaluated, this agent had not previously been diagnosed.

O objetivo do presente estudo, foi determinar a presença de Tritrichomonas foetus em dois rebanhos leiteiros no Altiplano Cundiboyacense. De vacas com um histórico de problemas reprodutivos, foram avaliados 21 lavados uterinos de pequeno volume, em dois rebanhos leiteiros localizados nos municípios de Sibaté (Cundinamarca) e Ventaquemada (Boyacá). No primeiro rebanho, 10 vacas foram amostradas e no segundo 11, baseado em três critérios de inclusão. Os lavados uterinos foram obtidos mediante infusão de solução salina fisiológica no corpo do útero. As amostras foram centrifugadas e semeadas em meio de cultura básico para Tritrichomonas por 10-15 dias a 37 ºC. Os protozoários foram avaliados no dia da colheita de amostras e 10 e 15 dias após incubação por meio de visualização direta sob um microscópio de campo escuro. As amostras positivas foram coradas com Wright e Lugol para identificar as características morfológicas. Este estudo mostrou que T. foetus estava presente em 61,8% dos animais amostrados. A determinação de que T. foetus estava presente em 61,8% das amostras analisadas é um achado significativo, dado que nos rebanhos avaliados, esse agente não tinha sido previamente diagnosticado.

Study of the uterine local immune response in a murine model of embryonic death due to Tritrichomonas foetus.

PROBLEM: Bovine tritrichomonosis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by Tritrichomonas foetus, characterized by conceptus loss. We developed a mouse model of tritrichomonosis to study the mechanisms involved in the embryonic death. We hypothesized that embryonic death may be due to an exacerbated maternal response to the pathogen that then affects embryo development. METHOD OF STUDY: We infected BALB/c mice with Tritrichomonas foetus and paired them after confirming active infection. We studied the expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, markers for T regulatory and T helper 17 cells as well as haem-oxygenase-1 expression in uterine tissue by real-time RT-PCR. RESULTS: As expected, TNF-α was augmented in infected animals. IL-10 and IL-4 were also up-regulated. Treg-associated genes were higher expressed in uteri of infected group. In mice that have lost their conceptus after the infection, haem-oxygenase-1 (HO-1) mRNA levels were strongly decreased, while RORγt mRNA, a reliable marker for Th17, was augmented in uterus. CONCLUSION: A T effector response of type 1 and 17 may be involved in tritrichomonosis-related embryonic death. This alters protective mechanisms as HO-1. Increased regulatory T cells may facilitate embryonic death by promoting the persistence of infection.

Co-infection with Toxoplasma gondii and Clostridium perfringens in a postpartum woman with uterine gas gangrene: a case report.

Toxoplasmosis is a protozoan infection caused by Toxoplasma gondii. We report a case of Toxoplasma gondii and Clostridium perfringens co-infection complicating uterine gas gangrene following a term pregnancy. The histological examination of the necrotic uterine tissues and uterine swab cultures obtained at laparotomy revealed T. gondii and C. perfringens, respectively. Treatment was administered with bactericidal activity against both pathogens and the patient had an uneventful post-operative recovery. Although there have been some cases that have documented an association between toxoplasmosis and non-uterine C. perfringens infection, such a relationship has not been established. It is of interest to determine if the presence of both organisms can explain the severe myonecrosis that occurs in some cases of uterine gas gangrene.

Increased incidence of DNA amplification in follicular than in uterine and blood samples indicates possible tropism of Neospora caninum to the ovarian follicle.

This study evaluated the presence of Neospora caninum in ovarian follicle aspirates and uterine flushes obtained from N. caninum seropositive dairy cows. Ninety-two cows that aborted within the previous 90 days were sampled to determine the presence of antibodies against N. caninum. Thirteen seropositive cows were chosen for collection of blood leukocytes, uterine flushes (UF; n=12) and follicular aspirates (OPU; n=13). Samples were centrifuged and the cellular sediment from the follicular fluid, uterine flushes and blood leukocytes were used for DNA extraction and PCR. Follicular aspirates had the highest frequency of DNA amplification for N. caninum (p<0.05, 92.3%; 12/13). Whereas uterine (4/12) and blood leukocyte (5/13) samples had similar (p>0.05) rate of positive results. Nonetheless, there was no agreement between blood leukocytes and follicular samples taken from the same animal (Cohen Kappa=-0.16). Similarly, blood leukocytes and uterine results had moderate agreement between them (Cohen Kappa=0.47). This study indicates that N. caninum is present in the ovarian follicle and uterus of seropositive cows, suggesting a possible risk of neosporosis transmission between females during oocyte and embryo collection and transfer. Hence, precautions should be taken to minimize the risk of N. caninum transmission. Furthermore, the high incidence of positive results in follicle samples, that exceeded that of their paired blood leukocytes, suggests a possible tropism of N. caninum for the ovarian follicle.

The impaired pregnancy outcome in murine congenital toxoplasmosis is associated with a pro-inflammatory immune response, but not correlated with decidual inducible nitric oxide synthase expression.

Congenital toxoplasmosis is associated with adverse pregnancy outcome. Despite the type 1 immune response, C57BL/6 mice are more susceptible than BALB/c mice to Toxoplasma gondii infection. Additionally, successful pregnancy appears to be correlated with type 2 T helper maternal immunity and regulatory T cells. In order to investigate the mechanisms of susceptibility/resistance to congenital toxoplasmosis in mice with different genetic backgrounds and the influence of inducible nitric oxide synthase in pregnancy outcome, groups of C57BL/6, BALB/c and C57BL/6 iNOS(-/-) females were orally infected with T. gondii ME-49 strain on day 1 of pregnancy and were sacrificed on day 8 p.i. and day 19 p.i. The uterus and placenta were evaluated for the foetal resorption rate, parasite load, immunological and histological changes. C57BL/6 mice presented inflammatory foci in the decidua (endometrium) of the uterus at a higher frequency than BALB/c mice on day 8 p.i., and a large number of pregnant C57BL/6 mice presented necrotic implantation sites. The parasite was seldom found in the uterus or placenta of either lineage of mice. Interestingly, there was no observed difference in inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in the uterus and placenta of infected mice. In addition, higher levels of TNF-α were detected in serum samples from C57BL/6 mice compared with BALB/c mice. Accordingly, C57BL/6 mice presented with levels of 90% abortion compared with 50% in BALB/c mice on day 19 p.i. C57BL/6 iNOS(-/-) mice showed low placental parasite counts and high absorption rates, similar to wild type mice. The data suggest that the impaired pregnancy outcome due to T. gondii infection in C57BL/6 mice could be associated with a higher inflammatory response leading to cell apoptosis and necrosis of implantation sites compared with BALB/c mice, and this phenomenon was not due to inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in the decidua.

Early intrauterine embryonic development in Khawia sinensis Hsü, 1935 (Cestoda, Caryophyllidea, Lytocestidae), an invasive tapeworm of carp (Cyprinus carpio): an ultrastructural study.

Intrauterine embryonic development in the caryophyllidean tapeworm Khawia sinensis has been investigated using transmission electron microscopy and cytochemical staining with periodic acid-thiosemicarbazide-silver proteinate for glycogen. Contrary to previous light microscopy findings that reported the release of non-embryonated eggs of K. sinenesis to the external environment, the present study documents various stages of embryonation (ovoviviparity) within the intrauterine eggs of this cestode. At the initial stage of embryonic development, each fertilised oocyte is accompanied by several vitellocytes that become enclosed within the operculate, electrondense shell. Cleavage divisions result in formation of blastomeres (up to about 24 cells) of various sizes. Mitotic divisions and apparent rosette arrangment of the blastomeres, the latter atypical within the Eucestoda, are observed for the first time in the intrauterine eggs of K. sinenesis. The early embryo enclosed within the electrondense shell is surrounded by a thin membraneous layer which in some enlarged regions shows presence of nuclei. Simultaneously to multiplication and differentiation, some of the blastomeres undergo deterioration. A progressive degeneration of the vitellocytes within eggs provides nutritive reserves, including lipids, for the developing embryo. The possible significance of this atypical timing of the intrauterine embryonic development to (1) the ecology of K. sinensis and that of a recent introduction of another invasive tapeworm, the caryophyllidean Atractolytocestus huronensis Anthony, 1958 to Europe; and (2) the affiliation of caryophyllideans with other lower cestodes, are discussed.