From Signaling Pathways to Distinct Immune Responses: Key Factors for Establishing or Combating Neospora caninum Infection in Different Susceptible Hosts

Abstract

Neospora caninum is an intracellular protozoan parasite affecting numerous animal species. It induces significant economic losses because of abortion and neonatal abnormalities in cattle. In case of infection, the parasite secretes numerous arsenals to establish a successful infection in the host cell. In the same context but for a different purpose, the host resorts to different strategies to eliminate the invading parasite. During this battle, numerous key factors from both parasite and host sides are produced and interact for the maintaining and vanishing of the infection, respectively. Although several reviews have highlighted the role of different compartments of the immune system against N. caninum infection, each one of them has mostly targeted specific points related to the immune component and animal host. Thus, in the current review, we will focus on effector molecules derived from the host cell or the parasite using a comprehensive survey method from previous reports. According to our knowledge, this is the first review that highlights and discusses immune response at the host cell–parasite molecular interface against N. caninum infection in different susceptible hosts.

Comparative Evaluation of Four Potent Neospora caninum Diagnostic Antigens Using Immunochromatographic Assay for Detection of Specific Antibody in Cattle

“…Neosporosis is a protozoan parasitic disease caused by Neospora caninum, which has been recorded among a wide variety of animal hosts and in most countries [1]. Three developmental stages have been recorded for N. caninum: tachyzoite (rapidly growing stage), bradyzoite (slowly growing stage), and sporozoite (fecal oocyst).…”

The Impact of BKI-1294 Therapy in Mice Infected With the Apicomplexan Parasite Neospora caninum and Re-infected During Pregnancy

“…The cellular immune response against N. caninum infection involves first the activation of antigen presenting cells (APCs), especially macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs), and the expression of IFN-γ. IFNγ then triggers the production of high amounts of proinflammatory mediators, which in turn mediate tachyzoite-tobradyzoite differentiation (46,47). By analyzing recall responses in medium supernatant of splenocytes of BKI-1294 treated and non-treated mice collected on day 26 p.i.…”

“…Previous studies demonstrated that BALB/c mice chronically infected with two isolates of different virulence transmitted the infection to their progeny only at a very low rate [8 and 17% of total pups, for the higher (Nc-Sp7) and lower virulence (NcSpainH-1) isolate, respectively] (51, 52). Thus, while N. caninum tissue cyst formation has been generally linked to an inflammatory, Th1-biased cellular immune response (47,50), it is not clear whether these livevaccinated mice actually harbored tissue cysts. Overall, there are few reports on tissue cyst formation in inbred mouse strains (53).…”

The State of Art of Extracellular Traps in Protozoan Infections (Review)

“…Sexual reproduction occurs only in the final canid hosts. These animals can transmit N. caninum ( 79 ). Therefore, sexual reproduction is related to the epidemiology of the disease.…”