Experimental Neospora caninum infection in domestic bird’s embryonated eggs

To date, there are no reports regarding comparison between different bird species in Neospora. caninum infection. In the present study 70 embryonated eggs from quail, partridge, broiler and egg laying chickens were divided into 7 groups equally. Six groups in each species were inoculated with different dilutions (10, 10², 10³, 10⁴, 10⁵, and 10⁶) of tachyzoites/embryonated egg in the chorioallantoic membrane and the seventh group was considered as control. The mortality rates and clinical signs were studied. All the egg laying chickens and some of the broiler chickens and quails showed neurologic signs like. The results revealed that the mortality rate was dose dependent in broiler chicken embryonated eggs. But mortality rate was dose independent in egg laying chickens and quail. Partridge revealed 100 % mortality rate in all doses. The LD₅₀ in broiler chicken embryonated was 10^2.3. In conclusion, LD₅₀ in the broiler chickens is the lowest between different animal models which shows that the broiler chicken embryonated egg is the best animal model for experimental inducing of neosporosis. Partridge is the most susceptible bird to N. caninum infection. These results reinforce that there is genetic susceptibility to N. caninum in chickens like mice and provide new insights to reach an inexpensive and available animal model for N. caninum infection.