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The vertical transmission following the reactivation of a Neospora caninum chronic infection does not seem to be due to an alteration of the systemic immune response in pregnant CBA/Ca mice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 March 2004

C. RETTIGNER ,
F. DE MEERSCHMAN ,
C. FOCANT ,
A. VANDERPLASSCHEN  and
B. LOSSON
C. RETTIGNER
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Parasitology and Pathology of Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, University of Liège, Boulevard de Colonster, 20, 4000, Liège, Belgium
F. DE MEERSCHMAN
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Parasitology and Pathology of Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, University of Liège, Boulevard de Colonster, 20, 4000, Liège, Belgium
C. FOCANT
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Parasitology and Pathology of Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, University of Liège, Boulevard de Colonster, 20, 4000, Liège, Belgium
A. VANDERPLASSCHEN
Affiliation:
Immunology-Vaccinology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, University of Liège, B436 Boulevard de Colonster, 20, 4000, Liège, Belgium
B. LOSSON
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Parasitology and Pathology of Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, University of Liège, Boulevard de Colonster, 20, 4000, Liège, Belgium
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Abstract

The factors responsible for the reactivation of a Neospora caninum latent infection are unknown, but it is postulated that the maternal immune response could be altered during pregnancy. The immune response was investigated in N. caninum chronically infected mice during successive pregnancies as well as in non-pregnant infected mice and mice infected when pregnant. Vertical transmission was demonstrated in chronically infected mice after the first pregnancy but the rate of fœtal infection fell after further pregnancies. Non-pregnant chronically infected mice showed a marked specific proliferative response and an IgG2a isotype preferential secretion. During the course of the first pregnancy, no significant modification of the immune response was recorded. After 2 successive pregnancies, the specific cellular response showed a significant fall whereas Th2 cytokine mRNA expression was noted. At the same time, IgG1 secretion increased to reach the IgG2a level. At the third delivery, a partial restoration of the proliferative response was observed. The reactivation of N. caninum chronic infection during pregnancy does not seem to be consecutive to an immunodepression. Nevertheless, pregnancy could favour parasite multiplication in utero after an occasional spontaneous release of bradyzoites.

Keywords

Neospora caninumreactivationpregnancyimmunitychronic infectiontransmission
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 128 , Issue 2 , February 2004 , pp. 149 - 160
Copyright
2004 Cambridge University Press

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