Influence of Neospora caninum intra-specific variability in the outcome of infection in a pregnant BALB/c mouse model | Veterinary Research, a journal on Animal Infection

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Table II.

Effect of Neospora caninum infection on dams and litter size.

N. caninum infected mice group (and control group)	No. of pregnant dams at day 14 of gestation (%)	No. of clinically affected pregnant dams (nervous signs)	No. of PCR-positive dams (%)	Litter size (average ± SD)
Nc-Spain 2H	11/24 (45.8)^a	H^b	3/11 (27.2)^d	4.9 ± 1.8
Nc-Spain 3H	14/22 (63.6)	H	11/14 (78.5)	6 ± 1.6
Nc-Spain 4H^†	12/22 (54.5)	12/12 (100%)^c	11/12 (91.6)¹	5.5 ± 1.3
Nc-Spain 5H	18/22 (81.8)	5/18 (27.7%)	18/18 (100)¹	4.8 ± 2.3
Nc-Spain 6	12/22 (54.5)	H	3/12 (25)	4.9 ± 2.1
Nc-Spain 7	13/22 (59)	4/13 (30.7%)	9/13 (69.2)	5.6 ± 1.3
Nc-Spain 8	19/24 (79.1)	H	5/19 (26.3)²	5.2 ± 1.5
Nc-Spain 9	10/24 (41.6)	H	1/10 (10)²	5.1 ± 1.2
Nc-Spain 10	13/22 (59)	H	11/13 (84.6)	5.9 ± 1.6
Nc-Liverpool	8/24 (33.3)	5/8 (62.5%)	8/8 (100)¹	4.8 ± 2.4
Control	18/22 (81.8)	H	0/10 (0)^e	5.3 ± 1.7

^† Nc-Spain 4H data were collected at day 20 PP when dams were sacrificed.

^a,c,d

Number of pregnant dams, number of clinically affected dams, and number of PCR-positive dams, according to superscript/number of total female mice.

Healthy. No clinical signs were detected in pregnant mice.

Ten female mice and their offspring were randomly selected as a control group to evaluate the presence of parasites in the dams’ brain and vertical transmission.

^1,2

Percentages determined for infected groups followed by unlike superscripts differ significantly by χ² multiple-comparison test.