Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dogs with neurological signs tested for Neospora and Toxoplasma
By Plugge, Nicolle Fridlund et al.·Published in Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria = Brazilian journal of veterinary parasitology : Orgao Oficial do Colegio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria·2011·Programa de Pó, Brazil·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Occurrence of antibodies against Neospora caninum and/or Toxoplasma gondii in dogs with neurological signs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs showing neurological signs, such as seizures and paralysis, were tested for infections by Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii. Out of 147 dogs, about 12% had antibodies for Neospora, while 21% tested positive for Toxoplasma, with some dogs showing high antibody levels. The study found that owned dogs had lower rates of Toxoplasma infection compared to stray dogs. This suggests that testing for these infections could be important when diagnosing neurological issues in dogs.
People also search for: dog seizures causes · Toxoplasma gondii in dogs · Neospora caninum treatment · dog neurological signs · dog paralysis treatment
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate occurrences of antibodies against Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii in dogs with neurological signs. Blood samples from 147 dogs were collected: 127 from owned dogs (attended at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the Federal University of Paraná (HV-UFPR) and at private veterinary clinics in the city of Curitiba), and 20 from stray dogs found in Curitiba's metropolitan region. The dogs presented one or more of the following neurological signs: seizures, paresis or paralysis, ataxia, behavioral abnormalities, sensory and somatic disorders and chorioretinitis. The samples were analyzed by means of the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT), at a cutoff dilution of 1:50. Out of the 147 samples obtained, 17 (11.56%) were seropositive for N. caninum, 31 (21.08%) for T. gondii and four (2.72%) for both protozoa. Serum titration on the positive animals showed that 54.83% (17/31) and 41.18% (7/17) had titers ≥ 1:200 against T. gondii and N. caninum, respectively. A significant difference in seropositivity for T. gondii (P = 0.021; OR = 2.87; CI = 1.1 > 2.8 > 7.4) was observed between owned dogs (18.11%) and stray dogs (40%). Inclusion of serological tests for neosporosis and toxoplasmosis is recommended in diagnosing neurological diseases in dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21961748/