Maintenance of Neospora caninum tachyzoites using Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus)

Abstract

Extract

We would like to report the successful maintenance of Neospora caninum (NC) tachyzoites by serial passage using the peritoneal fluid of Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus). Since NC was first isolated from naturally infected dogs (Dubey et al., 1988), and subsequently from dogs and cattle (Cuddon et al., 1992; Conrad et al., 1993; Barber et al., 1997; Yamane et al., 1997), it has only been maintained by tissue culture, because it could not be maintained in vivo.