A novel alternative model to study neuropathogenesis of cerebral neosporosis
The apicomplexan protozoan Neospora caninum circulates in nature between bovine and canine hosts as well as other vertebrate species. Until the present study, N. caninum was known to circulate between mammalian species only and was thought to be thus limited by a “species barrier,” which might depend on differences in the parasite virulence traits and the host animal physiology. Herein, we demonstrate for the first time that a strain of Neospora caninum (NC1-Liverpool) was able to infect the invertebrate desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) with induction of signs of illness in infected locusts. There was a reduction of body weight in a dose-dependent manner. Also, infected locusts showed slow mobility and sickness, which was dose-dependent. Control locusts appeared normal. Live parasites were recovered in tissue cultured from brain homogenates of infected locusts and were maintained successfully for up to 4 months before being stored in Liquid Nitrogen. These findings indicate that locusts could be a useful model to test for neuropathogenic strains and neuropathology and mechanisms of host specificity and tissue tropism. The possibility that N. caninum can cross species barriers may have important public health implications.
