Low rates of Neospora caninum infection reactivation during gestation are observed in both chronically and congenitally infected mice

Endogenous transplacental transmission (EnTT) of Neospora caninum is the most common route of infection in cattle and occurs as a consequence of a reactivation of N. caninum infection that may lead to abortion or to the birth of congenitally infected calves. The reactivation of N. caninum infection was studied during the gestation of chronically infected dams and, for the first time, in their congenitally infected pups. BALB/c mice were infected with Nc-Spain 7 (Group 1) or Nc-Spain 3H (Group 2), high virulence isolates and low-to-moderate virulence isolates, respectively. The mice were mated after 90 days post-infection, and the morbidity, mortality, vertical transmission and humoral immune responses were recorded for 2 consecutive generations. In the first generation, higher morbidity and mortality rates were observed in G1 before mating than in G2 (P<0.0001). In the second generation, low vertical transmission rates were observed in both inoculated groups (7.7% and 17.1% in G1 and G2, respectively) and were significantly diminished in the third generation (8.7% in G2 versus 0% in G1). Low rates of reactivation of N. caninum infection were induced in chronically infected mice and decreased in subsequent generations regardless of the isolate employed in the inoculations. Thus, further studies are needed to improve this reactivation mouse model.