Gerbil model of acute neosporosis

Experimental infections with the NC-1 strain of Neospora caninum were conducted in gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) to determine their acute responses to experimental intraperitoneal infection. Five groups of five female gerbils were used and they were intraperitoneally infected with 1 × 106, 2 × 106, 3 × 106, 4 × 106 or 5 × 106 tachyzoites. Gerbils in all groups developed clinical signs of neosporosis which consisted of inactivity 4-5 days post-inoculation. Morbidity and mortality were observed in all groups. Grossly there was a clear fibrinous exudate in the abdominal cavity and adhesions of the spleen and pancreas to the stomach in gerbils suffering from acute neosporosis. The LD50 was calculated as 9.3 × 105 tachyzoites per gerbil. The results indicate that gerbils can be used as a suitable model of acute neosporosis. This model can be used to screen candidate treatments and to test the efficacy of vaccines for neosporosis without the need to use histology or PCR to demonstrate treatment efficacy.