Encephalomyelitis in a calf associated with the protozoan Neospora caninum in the Parana State, Brazil

Abstract

A 21 days old Jersey male calf showing neurological signals was examined by the Pathology Emergency Service of Veterinary Hospital of State University of Londrina, Parana, Brazil. After the euthanasia the calf was submitted to the necropsy and fragments of cerebral cortex, cervical area of the spinal marrow, heart, liver and lung were picked for histological exams and virus isolation. No viral agent was isolated from the processed tissues of the calf. The histological exams revealed several ovoid and spherical cysts of protozoan in the brain and spinal marrow. These cysts showed positive reaction in the immunohistochemical (IHQ) for the N. caninum and also for T. gondii. Sera samples of the calf mother's also presented positive serology for N. caninum, T. gondii, BHV-1 and VBVD. The results of the maternal serology, IHQ, histopathology and clinical signs that the calf presented suggest the involvement of the N. caninum in the case. This is the first report of congenital neosporose in calf in the state of Paraná-Brazil.