Use of a multiplex polymerase chain reaction to rapidly differentiate Neospora caninum from Toxoplasma gondii in an adult dog with necrotizing myocarditis and myocardial infarct

• Published in: Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation Vol. 17; no. 6; pp. 565 - 568
• Main Authors: Meseck, E.K, Njaa, B.L, Haley, N.J, Park, E.H, Barr, S.C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.11.2005
• Subjects: Animals; case studies; Coccidiosis - complications; Coccidiosis - diagnosis; Coccidiosis - parasitology; Coccidiosis - veterinary; diagnostic techniques; disease diagnosis; dog breeds; dog diseases; Dogs; Fatal Outcome; Heart - parasitology; Male; Mastiff (dog breed); myocardial diseases; Myocardial Infarction - complications; Myocardial Infarction - parasitology; Myocardial Infarction - veterinary; Myocarditis - complications; Myocarditis - diagnosis; Myocarditis - parasitology; Myocarditis - veterinary; Myocardium - pathology; Neospora - genetics; Neospora - isolation & purification; Neospora caninum; neosporosis; Polymerase Chain Reaction; rapid methods; Toxoplasma - genetics; Toxoplasma - isolation & purification; Toxoplasma gondii; toxoplasmosis; Toxoplasmosis, Animal - complications; Toxoplasmosis, Animal - diagnosis; Toxoplasmosis, Animal - parasitology
• ISSN: 1040-6387; 1943-4936
• DOI: 10.1177/104063870501700607

This report describes a 3-year-old male castrated Mastiff dog that died unexpectedly with locally extensive, acute, necrotizing myocarditis and myocardial infarction. Intralesional protozoal tachyzoites in the affected myocardium were confirmed to be Neospora caninum by a novel multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistry. Protozoal organisms were not identified in other tissues by histology, immunohistochemistry, or PCR. The multiplex PCR assay was used to quickly provide preliminary results on fresh myocardium to differentiate N. caninum and Toxoplasma gondii. Neosporosis is an uncommon cause of myocarditis in adult dogs and differential diagnoses for myocarditis in this population of dogs are reviewed.