No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

Neospora caninum is a protozoan parasite causing bovine abortion all over the world. The aim of this study was to investigate how common N. caninum infection is among dairy herds in the Czech Republic. Bulk milk samples were collected from 495 dairy herds and analysed for the presence of specific antibodies by a commercial N. caninum iscom ELISA. Five out of 495 dairy herds (1.01%) had percentage positive values ≥20 and were considered positive. In the positive herds, blood samples were collected from cows and pregnant heifers and analysed by the ELISA test. The within-herd seroprevalence ranged from 2.5 to 50%. The bulk milk ELISA could be a useful and inexpensive method for rapid screening of Neospora caninum infection in dairy herds in large areas.

Eimeria motelo sp. n. is described from faeces of the yellow-footed tortoise, Geochelone denticulata (L.). Oocysts are irregularly ellipsoidal or cylindrical, with slightly expressed lobed protrusions and irregularities at the poles, possibly caused by wrinkling of the oocyst wall, 17 (15-19) × 9.4 (8.5-11) µm, shape index (length/width) being 1.81 (1.45-2). The oocyst wall is smooth, single-layered, 0.5 µm thick with no micropyle. There are no polar bodies. Sporocysts are ellipsoidal, 8.9 (7.5-10) × 4.4 (4-5) µm, shape index 2.03 (1.7-2.5). A sporocyst residuum is present, composed of many granules of irregular size. The sporozoites are elongate, lying lengthwise in the sporocysts. Comparison with other species of the genus Eimeria parasitising members of family Testudinidae indicates that the presently described coccidium represents a new species. The name of Eimeria carinii Lainson, Costa & Shaw, 1990 is found to be preoccupied by a homonym, Eimeria carinii Pinto 1928 given to a coccidium from Rattus norvegicus. Therefore, it is replaced by Eimeria lainsoni nom. nov

Neospora caninum (Apicomplexa: Sarcocystidae) is a coccidian parasite with a two‐host life‐cycle. Dogs and coyotes are definitive hosts. A wide spectrum of mammals serves as intermediate hosts (i.a. ruminants, horses, canids). The reproductive failures associated with abortion in cattle have an economic impact. A milk ELISA is a simple serological method for diagnostics of anti‐Neospora caninum antibodies in dairy herds. We used a commercial Neospora caninum iscom ELISA kit (Svanova, Sweden) designed to detect bovine Neospora‐specific antibodies in blood serum. We examined 332 dairy herds in the Czech Republic. Milk serum was examined at dilution 1:100 according to manufacturer's instructions. The number of milking cows in the examined herds varied, but never exceeded 200 per one bulk sample. Four out of 332 examined herds were significantly positive, the positive bulk milk samples were obtained from herds consisting of 7, 19, 35 and 98 cows. Hitherto, we have studied in detail the smallest herd. The milk and blood samples or only blood samples (in some animals, e.g. calves) were examined individually. We observed the correlation of positivity between milk and blood. Moreover, the mother‐descendant positivity/negativity was found. A dog living in the farm was examined, being coprologically negative but serologically positive (IFAT). This is the next proof of the occurrence of N. caninum in cattle in the Czech Republic. In addition, our results refer to an importance of transplacental transmission in cattle.

Coprological examination of 40 Apodemus mystacinus Danford and Alston 1877 from Jordan revealed oocysts of three species of genus Eimeria. Two species are described as new. Eimeria zuhairamri sp. n. has broadly ellipsoidal oocysts 29.6 (27.0-34.0) x 23.3 (22.0-25.0) mum with distinctly granulated wall and oocyst residuum. Endogenous development occurs in jejunum and ileum. Eimeria alorani sp. n. has oocysts 26.9 (23.0-29.0) x 19.3 (18.0-22.0) mum with smooth wall and absent residuum. Endogenous development is confined to the caecum. The third species, developing in jejunum, has oocysts morphologically indistinguishable from Eimeria uptoni. The identity of E. uptoni and the taxonomy of Eimeria of Apodemus are discussed.