Isolation and molecular detection of Neospora caninum from naturally infected sheep from Brazil

Neospora caninum was isolated from a naturally infected sheep from Brazil by bioassay in dogs. Approximately 70g of brain from each of two 4-month-old sheep with indirect fluorescent antibodies (>or=1:50) to N. caninum was offered to a different IFAT negative dog (Sheep n. 302, IFAT 1:400-Dog 1 and Sheep n. 342, IFAT 1:50-Dog 2). Parasite DNA was detected in both sheep brains using a PCR targeting the Nc-5 gene of N. caninum. Shedding of Neospora-like oocysts was noticed only in Dog 1, from 10 days post-inoculation (PI) to 25 days PI (a total of approximately 27,600 oocysts). Seventy days after infection, Dog 1 was euthanized and brain/cerebellum and medulla were collected and submitted to molecular methods, as were the oocysts, to confirm the identity of the isolate. Serum samples collected weekly from both dogs from the infection to the end of the experimental period had no antibodies anti-N. caninum by IFAT (<1:50). Oocysts, brain/cerebellum and medulla specimens of Dog 1 proved positive by a PCR assay targeting the Nc-5 gene of N. caninum. In addition, the oocysts have the DNA amplified by a PCR based on primers directed to the common toxoplasmatiid ITS1 sequence. The PCR products of ITS1 were sequenced, confirming again the isolate as N. caninum. Oocysts were also orally inoculated in two Swiss white mice two Mongolian gerbils (Meriones ungulatus) and two large vesper mice (Calomys callosus) (10(3)oocysts/animal). The rodents were sacrificed 2 months PI, and fresh preparations of brains showed Neospora thick-walled cysts in gerbil brains, but molecular detection using the Nc-5 PCR assay revealed DNA parasite in gerbil and also C. callosus brains. This is the first report of isolation and sequencing of N. caninum from a Brazilian sheep and the first report of molecular detection of N. caninum from C. callosus.     

新孢子虫荧光PCR检测方法的研究

根据已知的犬新孢子虫种属特异性基因片段Nc-5基因序列,设计荧光定量PCR引物和荧光探针,经反应条件的优化,建立了检测新孢子虫的荧光定量PCR方法。该方法的检测灵敏度为10拷贝/反应。通过对系列稀释的重组质粒进行重复性检测,Ct值的变异系数为0.50%~1.18%。应用该方法对50份牛全血和8份流产胎儿样本进行检测,有5份全血和1份流产胎儿样本为阳性,阳性检出率均为10.3%,比普通PCR方法阳性检出率（7%）高。且具有较好的特异性和可重复性,可用来对新孢子虫病快速准确检测。     

Coprodiagnosis of Hammondia heydorni in dogs by PCR based amplification of ITS 1 rRNA: differentiation from morphologically indistinguishable oocysts of Neospora caninum

Hammondia heydorni is thought to be a non-pathogenic coccidian parasite of dogs that is closely related to Neospora caninum, an important parasite of cattle and dogs. Oocysts of these two species are morphologically indistinguishable from each other. A population of 2240 dogs in the Czech Republic was screened for the presence of H. heydorni/N. caninum oocysts and five (0.22%), represented by five of 3135 faecal samples (0.16%), were positive. The internal transcribed spacer 1 region of the rRNA gene (ITS1) from two isolates were cloned and the DNA sequences were identical with those of the ITS1 of H. heydorni. Based on the rRNA sequences available for H. heydorni and related coccidia, the primer pair JS4-JS5 was designed to amplify the 3' end of the small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene and ITS1 of H. heydorni. When tested on DNA extracted from a variety of parasites, the primers amplified a specific 267 bp fragment in our isolates only. The presence of DNA equivalent to 10 oocysts was sufficient for the amplification of the ITS1. We present a PCR-based diagnostic method as the only fast and reliable method for the diagnosis of H. heydorni in dogs.     

牛新孢子虫二温式PCR检测方法的建立与应用

根据已发表的犬新孢子虫种属特异性基因片段Nc-5基因序列设计合成一对特异性引物,采用均匀设计方法对引物浓度、Mg2+浓度、dNTP、Taq酶和退火温度进行了优化,建立了检测牛新孢子虫的二温式PCR方法.该方法对牛新孢子虫DNA的检测灵敏度为23.5 fg/反应.应用该方法对50份全血和8份流产胎儿样本进行了检测,有3份...     

Immunohistochemical and polymerase chain reaction studies in Neospora caninum experimentally infected broiler chicken embryonated eggs

The diagnostic characteristics of immunohistochemistry (IHC) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods were studied in the tissues of broiler chicken embryos experimentally infected by Neospora caninum. An infection with N. caninum NC-1 isolate was conducted in 70 broiler chicken embryonated eggs randomly divided into seven equal groups. After 8 days of incubation, six groups were inoculated with 10, 10(2), 10(3), 10(4), 10(5), and 10(6) doses of tachyzoites/embryonated egg. The 7th group was considered as control. The mortality rate and pathological changes of the dead embryos and hatched chickens up to 60 days old were noticed. Consecutive sections to those used for histopathological examination including the liver, heart, brain, and chorioalantoic (CA) membrane were subjected to IHC. The intensity and distribution of the immunostaining was graded as highly to mildly positive. For PCR procedure, DNA was extracted from 50mg of the tissues and primer pair Np21/Np6 was used for amplification of the Nc-5 gene. The results of the immunosignaling ranged from variable degrees of mild to moderate staining as dark-brown to brown and coarsely to finely granular, mostly within the cytoplasm of infected cells such as the endothelial cells of blood vessels. The parasite aggregation was more predominant in the heart than other tissues. Immunoreactivity for N. caninum antigen was multifocally moderate positive in the heart, liver and CA of the 10(3) dose, and also heart, liver, brain and CA of the 10(4) dose. IHC showed mildly positive in the liver and heart of the chicken embryos infected with 10 and 10(2) tachyzoites, as well. The results of the PCR confirmed the existence of the parasite in all of the examined tissues from the 10(3) and 10(4) doses. In conclusion, the results indicate a good agreement between IHC and PCR in diagnosis of neospora antigen in the infected tissues.     

牛瑟氏泰勒虫ITS基因PCR诊断方法的建立

本试验根据GenBank上登录的牛瑟氏泰勒虫ITS基因序列(AY661522.1),应用Primer Premier 5.0和Oligo 6.31软件设计合成1对特异性引物,以牛瑟氏泰勒虫DNA为模板,建立了牛瑟氏泰勒虫ITS基因PCR诊断方法。该方法扩增片段大小为1020 bp,与参考序列的同源性为98%;建立的PCR方法与猪附红细胞体、犬新孢子虫和弓形虫均无交叉反应,最低DNA检出量为1.5 pg/μL;通过对60份临床样品的检测,并与血涂片方法进行比较,结果显示PCR方法具有特异、敏感等特点,适用于牛瑟氏泰勒虫的检测。     

The Neospora caninum-Spain 7 isolate induces placental damage, fetal death and abortion in cattle when inoculated in early gestation

The Nc-Spain 7 isolate of Neospora caninum, which was newly obtained from an asymptomatic congenitally infected calf, demonstrated a similar virulence as Nc-1 strain in mouse models. The aim of this study was to characterize the pathogenesis of Nc-Spain 7 isolate in cattle after experimental infection at 65 days of gestation. For this purpose, thirteen pregnant heifers were divided into three groups as follows: group A: 7 heifers inoculated with 1×10(8) tachyzoites of Nc-Spain 7 isolate; group B: 4 heifers inoculated with 1×10(8) tachyzoites of Nc 1 strain; and group C: 2 heifers received PBS. Serum samples were collected weekly and heparinized blood samples were collected three times (0, 28 and 42 days after inoculation) by jugular venipuncture. Placenta and fetal tissue samples were collected at time of necropsy. Specific antibody response in the dams was tested by IFAT, indirect ELISA, and rNcGRA7 and rNcSAG4 based-ELISA. Specific antibody response in fetal fluids was tested by IFAT. IFN-γ production was measured after in vitro culture of PBMC and the supernatant was assessed using a commercial kit (BOVIGAM). A significant increase in N. caninum antibody responses was detected in groups A and B by IFAT and by i-ELISA from day 14 after inoculation onwards. Besides, antibody response against rNCGra7 protein was also detected in all inoculated heifers by rNcGra7-based ELISA. Four fetuses from group A and one from group B were aborted between 3 and 5 weeks after infection. In the recovered fetuses, only 3 out of 4 fetal fluids from fetuses of group A and 1 out of 3 of group B were seropositive by IFAT, but all of them were positive by PCR. Transplacental transmission could be determined in all fetuses from groups A and B by PCR and/or IHC. Heifers of group C and their fetuses remained negative by all techniques. The results of this study demonstrate that the NC-Spain 7 isolate could be transmitted transplacentally, and produced fetal death and abortion in cattle.     

Preliminary study on differentiation of Leptospira grippotyphosa and Leptospira sejroe from other common pathogenic leptospiral serovars in canine urine by polymerase chain reaction assay.

A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method using primer sets of G1/G2 and B64-I/B64-II was validated to detect pathogenic leptospira serovars from canine urine samples. The PCR method was found to be specific and sensitive with a detection limit of 100 cells of Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae per milliliter of urine. The primer set previously designated and erroneously transcribed B64-I/B64-II amplified a DNA fragment of 352 base pairs from Leptospira grippotyphosa and Leptospira sejroe but not from Leptospira autumnalis, Leptospira bratislava, Leptospira canicola, Leptospira hardjo, Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae, and Leptospira pomona. From 100 diagnostic canine urine samples, 5 were found positive for Leptospira grippotyphosalsejroe with a PCR product of 352 base pairs and 6 were positive for other pathogenic leptospira serovars with a PCR product of 285 base pairs. One 285-base pair product was sequenced and found to be 99.3% homologous to the G1/G2 PCR fragment sequence reported previously. All 352-base pair PCR products of clinical samples and pure cultures of L. grippotyphosa and L. sejroe were sequenced. The 352-base pair fragment sequences of L. grippotyphosa and L sejroe were identical. Only 2 base pairs were found different between the sequences from pure cultures and those from clinical samples. Serum samples from 3 positive cases that generated a PCR product of 352 base pairs were tested by the microscopic agglutination test, and 2 were found to be positive for L. grippotyphosa (1:10,240 and 1:5,120), 1 was positive for L. grippotyphosa (1:320) or L. icterohaemorrhagiae (1:320). The results of this study suggest that the multiplex PCR with the primer set G1/G2 and the erroneously transcribed B64-I/B64-II may be able to differentiate L. grippotyphosa or L. sejroe from other pathogenic leptospira serovars commonly tested for in Canadian diagnostic laboratories.     

鸭瘟病毒的PCR检测及其产物分析

根据基因库中已有的鸭瘟 Ul6的序列 ,合成一对引物 ,对 3株鸭瘟病毒进行 PCR扩增 ,均扩增出大小约 42 0 bp的特异性片段。进行测序 ,结果表明 3个毒株扩增后的片段均为 42 1bp。经重复实验后确定最佳反应条件 ,按该条件对两例临床病料进行检测 ,结果均出现大小约为 42 0 bp的特异片段。PCR产物与 L ake Andes株的相关序列比较 ,广东毒株与 L ake Andes株同源性较高     

First identification of Neospora caninum infection in aborted bovine foetuses in China

The first identification of Neospora caninum infection in the tissues of aborted bovine foetuses in China is reported. Aborted foetuses were collected from 16 dams, and 12 of the dams had high serum antibody titres to N. caninum determined using an ELISA test kit. The Nc-5 gene of N. caninum was amplified from DNA samples extracted from brains of four aborted foetuses using a Neospora-specific PCR assay, confirming N. caninum infection in the aborted foetuses. Histology and immunohistochemistry showed thick-walled (3 microm) tissue cyst in 25 microm diameter in the brain of one foetus. Non-suppurative encephalomyelitis, focal haemorrhage, hepatic lesions consisted of lymphocyte infiltration and haemorrhage were also found in the heart and lung of the foetus. Thus, we have confirmed for the first time the infection of N. caninum in aborted foetuses of cattle in the People's Republic of China.     

牛新孢子虫内标双重荧光PCR检测方法的建立

为建立牛新孢子虫的快速准确检测方法,根据犬新孢子虫种属特异性基因Nc-5序列,设计高度保守的引物和荧光探针,通过引物设计和搭桥PCR法扩增,获得Nc-5荧光PCR内标模板。对内标模板的添加量和反应条件进行优化,建立了牛新孢子虫内标双重荧光PCR检测体系。该方法具有较好的特异性;可以检测到10个拷贝/PCR反应的核酸分子,与不加内标的荧光PCR检测灵敏度相当;通过对系列稀释的核酸样品的重复性检测,变异系数为0.50%～1.30%。通过对58份临床样品分别用该方法、不含内标的荧光PCR方法和普通PCR方法检测,结果显示,该方法与不含内标的荧光PCR方法的阳性检出率均为10.3%,比普通PCR方法阳性检出率（7.0%）高;表明该方法可用于临床样品中牛新孢子虫的快速检测,并能对实验室进行质量控制。     

Studies on Neospora caninum DNA detection in the oocytes and embryos collected from infected cows

Neosporosis is a major cause of abortion in cattle over the world. One of the methods of preventing vertical transmission within the herd is to avoid breeding replacement heifers from infected dams. Another procedure suggested and recommended by the International Embryo Transfer Society (IETS) is embryo transfer (ET) from infected dams into uninfected recipients. Oocytes and embryos taken from seropositive cows were examined for the presence of Neospora caninum DNA. A modified PCR protocol using Np21 and Np6 primers was applied to detect parasite DNA in the samples. The expected 328 bp product was not obtained in oocytes and/or embryos collected from seropositive dams. The results confirmed that transfer of the embryos from seropositive donors into seronegative recipients is an appropriate method to eliminate vertical transmission of neosporosis in a herd. The present study demonstrated that oocytes and embryos are not exposed to N. caninum in the uterine cavity of seropositive dams.     

用聚合酶链反应检测羊流产衣原体的初步研究

依据鹦鹉热衣原体羊流产株的主要外膜蛋白基因核苷酸顺序，设计，合成了１对ＰＣＲ引物，利用该对引物，以衣原体基因组ＤＮＡ为模板，可以用ＰＣＲ扩增出－１．１７ＫｂＤＮＡ片段，检测灵敏度可达０．１ｐｇ。采集衣原体感染的山羊流产胎衣等病料制取核酸样品，进行ＰＣＲ检测，同样扩增出特异性条带。作为对照的健康动物组织，常见病原菌的核酸样品则都呈阴性反应，用建立的ＰＣＲ检测衣原体的方法检查了６５份自然病料，有６份呈     

Isolation of Neospora caninum from a calf in Malaysia

In order to attempt isolate the protozoan parasite Neospora caninum, an N. caninum seropositive pregnant Sahiwal Friesian cross heifer from a large-scale dairy farm in Malaysia was kept for observation until parturition at the Veterinary Research Institute, Ipoh. The heifer gave birth to a female calf that was weak, underweight and unable to rise. Precolostral serum from the calf had an N. caninum indirect fluorescent antibody test titre of 1:3200. It died 12 h after birth and necropsy was performed. Brain homogenate from the calf was inoculated into 10 BALB/c mice that were kept for 3 months after which brain tissue from the mice was inoculated onto 24 h fresh monolayer Vero cell lines. The cell cultures were examined daily until growth of intracellular protozoa was observed. DNA of the organisms from the cell cultures was analyzed by PCR and DNA sequencing. DNA fragments of the expected size were amplified from the isolate using N. caninum-specific primers, and sequence analysis of ITS1 clearly identified the isolate as N. caninum. This is the first successful isolation of N. caninum from a bovine in Malaysia, and the isolate is designated Nc-MalB1.     

应用PCR检测隐孢子虫卵囊的研究

隐孢子虫病是一种重要的人畜共患原虫病。为了在临床样品中更准确、快速地检测隐孢子虫卵囊，从初步纯化的含有不同数量隐孢子虫卵囊的样品中和含有不同数量隐孢子虫卵囊的奶牛粪便中，直接提取DNA或用DNA纯化试剂盒对提取的奶牛粪便中卵囊DNA进行纯化之后用作PCR模板，用1对人工合成寡核苷酸作为PCR引物，扩增片段大小为452bp。优化了Mg^2 浓度、引物浓度和dNTP浓度，并进行了特异性检验。建立的PCR具有隐孢子虫属特异性，不仅扩增出新鲜样品DNA提取物中的目的片段，而且扩增出放置6年之久的DNA提取物中的目的片段。样品经过初步纯化之后，最低检测值100个卵囊／ml；从含有隐孢子虫卵囊的奶牛粪便中提取DNA，尔后经过DNA纯化试剂盒纯化，PCR最低检测值为10^5个卵囊/g粪便。     

牛瑟氏泰勒虫二温式PCR快速检测技术的建立及初步应用

为建立一种牛瑟氏泰勒虫快速检测技术,根据GenBank上已发表的牛瑟氏泰勒虫P23表面蛋白基因序列(D84447)设计1对特异性引物,扩增出大小为244 bp的基因片段,经克隆、测序分析,与已知基因序列同源性为100%。用该对引物建立的牛瑟氏泰勒虫二温式PCR能检测出的最高敏感度为171 fg/μL,与牛新孢子虫、弓形虫和卵形巴贝斯虫不产生交叉反应,对48份临床血液样本进行检测,阳性检出率为66.67%。用同一对引物对28份临床血液样本分别进行二温式PCR和三温式PCR检测,阳性符合率为95%,总符合率为96.43%。结果表明,该方法具有快速、敏感、特异等优点,可用于牛瑟氏泰勒虫病的快速临床诊断及流行病学调查。     

伪狂犬病病毒HS株tk基因的PCR扩增与克隆

参照伪狂犬病病毒（Ｐｓｅｕｄｏｒａｂｉｅｓｖｉｒｕｓ,ＰＲＶ）ＮＩＡ－３株ｔｋ基因序列,设计并合成１对长２２ｍｅｒ的引物,引物间距１．５ｋｂ,其内包含完整的ＰＲＶｔｋ基因。以ＢＨＫ２１细胞繁殖的ＰＲＶ湖北地方强毒株（ＨＳ－９３０４）基因组为模板进行ＰＣＲ扩增。琼脂糖凝胶电泳检测显示扩增主带清晰,长约１．５ｋｂ,符合设计要求。扩增片段克隆至由ｐＵＣ１８质粒改制而成的Ｔ载体中,限制性内切酶ＢａｍＨＩ、ＳｍａⅠ、ＸｈｏⅠ、ＨｉｎｄⅢ酶切分析证实,扩增片段的酶切位点与ｔｋ基因一致,说明扩增和克隆片段包含ＰＲＶｔｋ基因。     

In vitro isolation of Neospora caninum from a stillborn calf in the UK.

Neospora caninum was isolated in Vero cell culture from the brain of a stillborn calf. This isolate (designated NC-LivB1) is the first to be obtained from cattle in the United Kingdom and was confirmed as N. caninum by immunofluorescence with specific antibodies and by internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) sequence analysis. Differences were found between NC-LivB1, other bovine isolates and canine isolates of N. caninum and closely related protozoal parasites, using random amplified polymorphic DNA polymerase chain reaction (RAPD - PCR) techniques.     

Associations between pregnancy outcome and serological response to Neospora caninum among a group of dairy heifers

AIM: To monitor pregnancy in a group of rising 2-year-old dairy heifers on a farm on which abortion due to Neospora caninum was known to occur in previous years. METHODS: A prospective cohort study group of 164 rising 2-year-old heifers was pregnancy-tested and blood-sampled at 4-5-week intervals throughout gestation. Sera were tested for antibodies to N. caninum at 3-4-month intervals, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). When loss of pregnancy was detected, an N. caninum indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) was conducted retrospectively on stored sera collected the month before abortion, the month abortion was detected, and for the following 2 months, from heifers that aborted. All fetal and placental material detected following abortion was subjected to gross post-mortem and histopathological examination. RESULTS: Eleven of 18 (61%) heifers that were seropositive and 4/146 (3%) heifers that were seronegative to N. caninum by ELISA, aborted. The relative risk for abortion among ELISA-positive heifers was 23.6. Abortion occurred predominantly between Days 120 and 152 gestation among the ELISA-positive heifers and throughout gestation among the ELISA-negative heifers. IFAT titres rose around the time of abortion in most of the heifers that were previously seropositive by ELISA, but dropped rapidly again in post-abortion samples. IFAT titres among 4/6 ELISA-positive heifers that did not abort increased, but later in gestation than the time other heifers aborted. IFAT titres remained negative in heifers that aborted that were ELISA negative. CONCLUSIONS: Heifers that were seropositive to N. caninum by ELISA had a much greater risk of abortion than seronegative heifers. Most seropositive heifers showed evidence of a reactivation of infection during pregnancy. High (> or =1:2,000) N. caninum IFAT titres also occurred in non-aborting heifers. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Culling of replacement heifers seropositive to N. caninum may be a cost-effective strategy for minimising risk of abortion. Pregnancy testing heifers before 5 months gestation may overestimate the number that calve in N. caninum-infected herds, but would assist in documenting the occurrence of abortion. Reliance on a high (>1:2,000) IFAT titre to rule-in N. caninum as a cause of abortion is likely to produce false-positive results.     

PCR-based species-specific amplification of ITS of Mecistocirrus digitatus and its application in identification of GI nematode eggs in bovine faeces

Differential diagnosis of Mecistocirrus digitatus infection relies on morphological examination of either eggs in faecal samples or L3 larvae developed in vitro. Technical limitations hinder the practicability of these approaches. Hence, in order to develop a specific diagnostic measure for M. digitatus infection, we determined the sequence of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of its ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and designed primers for PCR-based species-specific amplification of the ITS to differentiate between M. digitatus and other common gastrointestinal (GI) nematode species. The newly designed primers amplified a single specific 520 base pair (bp) fragment from the M. digitatus ITS, and its detection limit was as low as 0.001 ng. Further, this sensitivity suggested that the specific fragment could be amplified even from a unicellular egg that collected directly from uteri of an adult M. digitatus female. In fact, we designed a method that employs a small piece of a cover slip and a filter paper by which we could differentially amplify a PCR fragment from a unicellular egg. The reliability of the specific PCR assay was also demonstrated with 10 oval samples that collected from bovine faeces by using sugar flotation method. These data suggested that the specific PCR assay of the ITS region of M. digitatus rDNA could be useful for the identification of GI nematodes.