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Objectives: Studies in humans have demonstrated the role of Toxoplasma gondii, a protozoan parasite, in epileptic seizures. This study aimed to investigate the serological correlation between T. gondii and N. caninum and epilepsy in dogs. Materials and Methods: The medical record database of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Perugia, was searched for dogs serologically tested by IFAT for T. gondii and N. caninum and following specific inclusion criteria. Dogs were stratified by having a clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or suffering different conditions. Results: One‐hundred and twenty‐eight dogs were included, 64 with epilepsy and 64 without clinical signs of epilepsy. Seventeen of the 64 epileptic dogs (26.6%; 95% CI: 15.7% to 37.4%) and twenty‐one of the 64 non‐epileptic dogs (32.8%; 95% CI: 21.3% to 44.3%) tested positive for T. gondii. Eight of the epileptic dogs (12.5%; 95% CI: 4.4% to 20.6%) and three of the non‐epileptic dogs (4.7%; 95% CI: 0% to 9.9%) tested positive for N. caninum. There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of T. gondii or N. caninum seroreactivity between epileptic and non‐epileptic dogs. Clinical Significance: The results obtained do not seem to support the role of T. gondii and N. caninum as causative agents of dog epilepsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptosporidium and Giardia are two of the most common enteric pathogens of domestic and wild animals and humans. However, little is known on the prevalence, clinical manifestations and economic and zoonotic significance of these infections in horses. This study was undertaken to investigate the prevalence, excretion patterns and risk factors related to the faecal shedding of Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts in horses and the zoonotic potential of species/genotypes isolated. The survey was performed on 120 foals and 30 broodmares reared in five Italian farms. Foals were divided in four homogeneous groups of 30 animals each (age classes: 0-2, 2-4, 4-8, >8 weeks). Three sequential faecal samples were collected from each animal and analysed by three techniques: direct fluorescent antibody test (DFA), faecal flotation (FF) and stained faecal smears (SFS). The DFA results showed a prevalence of 8% for Cryptosporidium and of 13.33% for Giardia; the prevalence values obtained by FF and SFS were lower and in poor agreement with DFA results. Giardia and Cryptosporidium infections were more common in foals (23.33% and 26.66% respectively) and higher excretions were observed in the youngest foals. Distribution of Cryptosporidium prevalence was statistically related to farms ( P < 0.01), age of animals ( P < 0.01), but was unrelated to the presence of diarrhoea. In the case of Giardia, the prevalence was only related to age ( P < 0.01). Pattern sheddings were related to intestinal diseases and horse age ( P < 0.01). Risk factors for shedding included residence farms and age older than 8 weeks for both parasites. All DFA-positive faecal samples were submitted to DNA extraction and PCR to determine Giardia and Cryptosporidium species/genotypes. Sequence analysis of the COWP gene of Cryptosporidium and of the SSU-rRNA gene of Giardia revealed that they were identical to each other and identified Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia duodenalis assemblage E. The potential role of infected horses in zoonotic transmission of Cryptosporidium was supported by the findings of this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary In this paper, a parasitological and serological study performed in three cows up to the fourth gestation is reported in order to clarify the extent of vertical propagation and, secondly, in which period of gestation the recrudescence of previous infection occurs. The cows selected for the study delivered healthy but congenitally infected calves in first pregnancy. The parasite was found, by biological tests in Swiss mice, in all the placentas of the three cows examined, during the three subsequent gestations, at calving. The parasite was found, at slaughtering, in the brains of all nine calves born clinically healthy from the three cows as well. The serological profile, performed at monthly intervals on serum of the cows, showed that IgG and IgM increased in the third trimester of gestation; this rise of antibodies was constantly observed during the three gestations and in all three cows. In the calves, the IgG titres increase after colostrum consumption and an IgM peak at birth, were indicative of a late infection. These findings, along with negative results obtained by a serological study conducted simultaneously on 38 cows housed in the same stable as the experimental animals and the negative results obtained in isolating parasite or antibodies from farm dogs, suggest that N. caninum infection can be maintained over several bovine generations and that recrudescing persistent infection, rather than a new infection, explains the Neospora infection of calves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]