Issue |
Vet. Res.
Volume 35, Number 2, March-April 2004
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Page(s) | 225 - 232 | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/vetres:2004005 | |
How to cite this article | Vet. Res. (2004) 225-232 |
DOI: 10.1051/vetres:2004005
Survival, immune responses and tissue cyst production in outbred (Swiss white) and inbred (CBA/Ca) strains of mice experimentally infected with Neospora caninum tachyzoites
Chantal Rettignera, Thierry Leclipteuxb, François De Meerschmana, Charles Focanta and Bertrand Lossonaa Laboratory of Parasitology and Pathology of Parasitic Diseases, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Boulevard de Colonster, 20, 4000 Liège, Belgium
b Coris Bioconcept, Science Park-Cassiopée, Rue Phocas Lejeune, 30 Bte 9, 5032 Gembloux, Belgium
(Received 15 July 2003; accepted 9 October 2003)
Abstract - The present work compared inbred (CBA/Ca) and outbred (Swiss white) strains of mice for their capacity to cope with a Neospora caninum infection and to consistently produce tissue cysts. In each experiment Swiss white and CBA/Ca mice were given three different
doses of NC-1 tachyzoites. Lymphoproliferative and humoral responses as well as cytokine production were evaluated eight weeks
after infection (PI) whereas tissue cyst production and histopathology were assessed 4, 6 and 10 weeks PI in immunosuppressed
mice. Tissue cysts were observed 10 weeks after infection only in CBA/Ca mice receiving the two highest inoculum doses. Furthermore
this strain showed the highest specific lymphoproliferative response. A mixed cytokine response with elevated IFN-
and fairly low IL-4 and IL-10 secretion was recorded. In both strains, no lesions were observed in the tissues of infected
mice. This study indicates that CBA/Ca female mice infected with 5 × 106 NC-1 tachyzoites represent a useful model for the study of specific maternal immune responses in pregnant animals.
Key words: Neospora caninum / immune response / resistance / cyst / mice
Corresponding author: Chantal Rettigner Chantal.Rettigner@ulg.ac.be
© INRA, EDP Sciences 2004