Neospora caninum

The Neospora caninum is a parasite protozoon causing the néosporose.

Importance and geographical distribution

The néosporose touches the Chien and various other mammals. It is responsible, especially in the pup and the immunodéprimé adult, of locomotor disorders and neurological mortals: pyogranulomateuse encephalomyelitis, myosite necrotic and dermite. No case of transmission to human is known. The néosporose is regarded as a serious disease of the pups, in North America (the United States and Canada); one also finds it in Western Europe and Australia.

Epidemiology

The parasite is known only among intermediate hosts, in the forms of Tachyzoïte S and Bradyzoïte S almost identical to those of T. gondii. The final host is the dog. Many mammals (whose dog) can play the part of HI. The infection is done by ingestion of bradyzoïtes or even of tachyzoïtes rejected into the saddles. There exists a trans-placental transmission.

Principal clinical signs

The parasite appears pathogenic at newborns pups and Chat ons. The disease is very serious during infection of the fetus or the newborn.

The clinical signs observed are:

in the pup: ascending posterior paralysis with cramp and hyperextension of the rear limbs; possibly a muscular atrophy, cutaneous lesions;
in the adult dog: multiple attacks of the central nervous system, polymyosite;
in the cat: fatal disease in the kitten; possible acute disease in the adults after corticothérapie.

One observes necrose and of the mineral deposits in the muscles, a hypertrophy of the liver, pneumonia.

Death occurs in a few weeks.

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