Description of a new Neospora species (Protozoa: Apicomplexa: Sarcocystidae).
Abstract: Neospora hughesi n. sp. was isolated from the central nervous system tissue of an adult equine (Equus caballus) from California. The tachyzoites are crescent-shaped, approximately 2 x 5 microm (1.8-3.0 x 4.0-7.0 microm), with characteristic apical complex structures consisting of an anterior polar ring, conoid, numerous rhoptries filled with a uniform electron-dense material, and 22 microtubules extending posteriorly from the polar ring. Comparison of N. hughesi to canine and bovine Neospora caninum isolates showed phenotypic differences in immunoreactive proteins. Molecular analysis of the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene revealed no differences in the nucleotide sequence between N. hughesi and N. caninum isolates examined. However, the internal transcribed spacer I region revealed 7 nucleotide base differences between N. hughesi and N. caninum isolates (CN1 and BPA1) analyzed in this study. The existence of nucleotide base differences in the internal transcribed spacer regions suggests that this region may be a genetic marker for discriminating species within the genus Neospora. The ultrastructural, antigenic, and molecular data support distinction of N. hughesi as a new species, separate from N. caninum, the only recognized species in this genus.
Publication Date: 1998-10-30 PubMed ID: 9794642
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
This research article investigates a new species of the protozoan parasite Neospora, named Neospora hughesi, which was discovered in the central nervous system tissue of an adult horse from California. The researchers compared this new species to existing Neospora caninum species in dogs and cows, examining physical characteristics, immune responses, and genetic markers.
Physical Properties of N. hughesi
- The researchers first described the physical characteristics of the new species. They found that the Neospora hughesi parasites are crescent-shaped, measuring 2 x 5 micrometers, but their size can slightly vary.
- They discovered that the parasite features complex structures at one end, including an anterior polar ring, a conoid, and multiple rhoptries (secretory organelles in apicomplexan parasites) filled with electron-dense material.
- The polar ring has 22 microtubules extending towards the other end of the parasite.
Comparing N. hughesi to Existing Neospora Species
- The research team then compared these new tachyzoites from N. hughesi to those of the existing Neospora caninum species in dogs and cows.
- Through this comparison, they discovered differences in the proteins that incite an immune response. These variances in immunoreactive proteins suggest that the Neospora species interact differently with their host species’ immune systems.
Molecular Analysis
- The paper then delves into the genetic comparison of the new N. hughesi species with the existing N. caninum species. The researchers analysed the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene and found that their sequences were identical.
- However, when they studied the ‘internal transcribed spacer I’ region of the genetic material, they discovered 7 bases difference.
- This significant difference leads them to suggest that this region could be used as a genetic marker to distinguish different species within the Neospora genus.
Conclusions
- Based on the distinct physical characteristics, different immunoreactive proteins, and the genetic variations in the internal transcribed spacer regions, the researchers concluded that Neospora hughesi is a new species within the Neospora genus.
- Before this research, Neospora caninum was the only known species in this genus, meaning that discovering N. hughesi expands our understanding of this group of parasites.
Cite This Article
APA
Marsh AE, Barr BC, Packham AE, Conrad PA.
(1998).
Description of a new Neospora species (Protozoa: Apicomplexa: Sarcocystidae).
J Parasitol, 84(5), 983-991.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia 65205, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Antibodies, Protozoan / immunology
- Antigens, Protozoan / analysis
- Antigens, Protozoan / genetics
- Antigens, Protozoan / immunology
- Base Sequence
- Blotting, Western / veterinary
- Cattle
- Chlorocebus aethiops
- Coccidiosis / parasitology
- Coccidiosis / veterinary
- DNA, Protozoan / chemistry
- Dogs
- Female
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horses
- Immunohistochemistry
- Microscopy, Electron / veterinary
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Neospora / classification
- Neospora / genetics
- Neospora / immunology
- Neospora / ultrastructure
- Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
- Protozoan Proteins / analysis
- Protozoan Proteins / genetics
- Protozoan Proteins / immunology
- RNA, Protozoan / genetics
- RNA, Ribosomal / genetics
- Rabbits
- Sequence Alignment
- Vero Cells
Citations
This article has been cited 22 times.- Leszkowicz Mazuz M, Mimoun L, Schvartz G, Tirosh-Levy S, Savitzki I, Edery N, Blum SE, Baneth G, Pusterla N, Steinman A. Detection of Neospora caninum Infection in Aborted Equine Fetuses in Israel. Pathogens 2020 Nov 19;9(11).
- Tirosh-Levy S, Steinman A, Minderigiu A, Arieli O, Savitski I, Fleiderovitz L, Edery N, Schvartz G, Mazuz ML. High Exposure to Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora Spp. in Donkeys in Israel: Serological Survey and Case Reports. Animals (Basel) 2020 Oct 19;10(10).
- Reiling SJ, Measures L, Feng S, Boone R, Merks H, Dixon BR. Toxoplasma gondii, Sarcocystis sp. and Neospora caninum-like parasites in seals from northern and eastern Canada: potential risk to consumers. Food Waterborne Parasitol 2019 Dec;17:e00067.
- Zhang XL, Li XW, Li WJ, Huang HL, Huang SJ, Shao JW. Molecular evidence of Babesia in pet cats in mainland China. BMC Vet Res 2019 Dec 30;15(1):476.
- Khan A, Fujita AW, Randle N, Regidor-Cerrillo J, Shaik JS, Shen K, Oler AJ, Quinones M, Latham SM, Akanmori BD, Cleaveland S, Innes EA, Ryan U, Šlapeta J, Schares G, Ortega-Mora LM, Dubey JP, Wastling JM, Grigg ME. Global selective sweep of a highly inbred genome of the cattle parasite Neospora caninum. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019 Nov 5;116(45):22764-22773.
- Silva RC, Machado GP. Canine neosporosis: perspectives on pathogenesis and management. Vet Med (Auckl) 2016;7:59-70.
- Bowden GD, Land KM, O'Connor RM, Fritz HM. High-throughput screen of drug repurposing library identifies inhibitors of Sarcocystis neurona growth. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2018 Apr;8(1):137-144.
- Gondim LFP, Mineo JR, Schares G. Importance of serological cross-reactivity among Toxoplasma gondii, Hammondia spp., Neospora spp., Sarcocystis spp. and Besnoitia besnoiti. Parasitology 2017 Jun;144(7):851-868.
- Almería S. Neospora caninum and Wildlife. ISRN Parasitol 2013;2013:947347.
- Jiménez D, Romero-Zuñiga JJ, Dolz G. Serosurveillance of infectious agents in equines of the Central Valley of Costa Rica. Open Vet J 2014;4(2):107-12.
- Talafha AQ, Abutarbush SM, Rutley DL. Seroprevalence and Potential Risk Factors Associated with Neospora spp. Infection among Asymptomatic Horses in Jordan. Korean J Parasitol 2015 Apr;53(2):163-7.
- Tavalla M, Sabaghan M, Abdizadeh R, Khademvatan S, Rafiei A, Razavi Piranshahi A. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora spp. Infections in Arab Horses, Southwest of Iran. Jundishapur J Microbiol 2015 Mar;8(3):e14939.
- Awinda PO, Mealey RH, Williams LB, Conrad PA, Packham AE, Reif KE, Grause JF, Pelzel-McCluskey AM, Chung C, Bastos RG, Kappmeyer LS, Howe DK, Ness SL, Knowles DP, Ueti MW. Serum antibodies from a subset of horses positive for Babesia caballi by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay demonstrate a protein recognition pattern that is not consistent with infection. Clin Vaccine Immunol 2013 Nov;20(11):1752-7.
- Gjerde B. Characterisation of full-length mitochondrial copies and partial nuclear copies (numts) of the cytochrome b and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I genes of Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, Hammondia heydorni and Hammondia triffittae (Apicomplexa: Sarcocystidae). Parasitol Res 2013 Apr;112(4):1493-511.
- Santos SL, de Souza Costa K, Gondim LQ, da Silva MS, Uzêda RS, Abe-Sandes K, Gondim LF. Investigation of Neospora caninum, Hammondia sp., and Toxoplasma gondii in tissues from slaughtered beef cattle in Bahia, Brazil. Parasitol Res 2010 Jan;106(2):457-61.
- Al-Qassab S, Reichel MP, Ivens A, Ellis JT. Genetic diversity amongst isolates of Neospora caninum, and the development of a multiplex assay for the detection of distinct strains. Mol Cell Probes 2009 Jun-Aug;23(3-4):132-9.
- Dubey JP, Schares G, Ortega-Mora LM. Epidemiology and control of neosporosis and Neospora caninum. Clin Microbiol Rev 2007 Apr;20(2):323-67.
- Hoane JS, Morrow JK, Saville WJ, Dubey JP, Granstrom DE, Howe DK. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for detection of equine antibodies specific to Sarcocystis neurona surface antigens. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol 2005 Sep;12(9):1050-6.
- Wilson AP, Thelen JJ, Lakritz J, Brown CR, Marsh AE. The identification of a sequence related to apicomplexan enolase from Sarcocystis neurona. Parasitol Res 2004 Nov;94(5):354-60.
- Baneth G, Kenny MJ, Tasker S, Anug Y, Shkap V, Levy A, Shaw SE. Infection with a proposed new subspecies of Babesia canis, Babesia canis subsp. presentii, in domestic cats. J Clin Microbiol 2004 Jan;42(1):99-105.
- Dubey JP. Review of Neospora caninum and neosporosis in animals. Korean J Parasitol 2003 Mar;41(1):1-16.
- Naguleswaran A, Cannas A, Keller N, Vonlaufen N, Schares G, Conraths FJ, Björkman C, Hemphill A. Neospora caninum microneme protein NcMIC3: secretion, subcellular localization, and functional involvement in host cell interaction. Infect Immun 2001 Oct;69(10):6483-94.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
