IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL DIAGNOSIS OF NEOSPORA-CANINUM IN TISSUE-SECTIONS

Abstract

An avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex immunoperoxidase staining method was developed to detect Neospora caninum in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections. Specific antiserum to N. caninum was made in rabbits and used to probe tisses from dogs naturally and experimentally infected with N. caninum. The test detected tachyzoites and bradyzoites of N. caninum. A reaction was not observed to Toxoplasma gondii, Hammondia hammondi, Sarcocystis cruzi, S. capricanis, S. tenella, Besnoitia jellisoni, Caryospora bigenetica, Hepatoazoon canis, Atoxoplasma sp, or the organism causing canine dermal coccidiosis. When antiserum made in rabbits to T. gondii was used in the test, reaction to N. caninum was not observed.