Abortions, @entity5617 , and stillbirths in pregnant pygmy XXXX inoculated with tachyzoites of Neospora caninum.

@entity281 @entity291 @entity1237 @entity5617
Neospora caninum-induced abortion is a major production problem in the dairy @entity291 industry in the United States and worldwide. Abortions attributable to naturally acquired N @entity281 also have been observed in pygmy @entity1237 . We studied experimentally induced @entity281 with N caninum in pregnant pygmy does to determine whether abortions attributable to N @entity281 would occur after inoculation. Seven pregnant pygmy does (1 control doe and 6 inoculated with N caninum) were studied. The control doe remained clinically normal throughout the study and delivered 2 healthy kids. Abortion, @entity5617 , and stillbirths were observed in some pregnant does inoculated with N caninum. Two pregnant pygmy does inoculated with N caninum early in gestation (day 51) had fetuses that died and were aborted, or died and were reabsorbed. Neospora caninum tachyzoites and lesions were observed in the brain, spinal cord, and heart of aborted fetuses; parasites also were isolated from the placenta. Four additional pregnant pygmy does (2 inoculated at mid-gestation [day 85], and 2 at late gestation [day 127]) did not abort after inoculation. However, 1 doe inoculated during mid-gestation delivered a stillborn fetus that had died about 1 week prior to parturition. This kid was congenitally infected with N caninum. Neospora caninum was isolated from the placentas of all inoculated does examined. Neonatal neosporosis was not observed in live-born kids, nor were stages of N caninum isolated from any live-born kid. Does did not undergo abortion or have congenitally infected kids when they were rebred and evaluated for neosporosis.
