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Standardization of the outbred BALB/c mice as a suitable animal model for Besnoitia caprae studies

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Abstract

The Apicomplexan parasite Besnoitia caprae infects wild and domestic goats. Knowledge on Besnoitia caprae specially an optimized animal model is sparse. Experimental infections with tachyzoites of BC-Pars obtained from BALB/c mice were conducted in outbred mice to determine the infectivity and LD50 of Besnoitia caprae. Six groups of five mice were intraperitoneally infected with 12.5 × 103, 25 × 103, 5 × 104, 1 × 105 and 2 × 105 tachyzoites and a control inoculum of DMEM, respectively. Although morbidity and mortality were observed in all groups, two mice in the 12.5 × 103 group showed alopecia and skin lesions on 60 days post-infection (DPI). Histopathological and molecular examination of skins confirmed B. caprae infection. The LD50 was calculated as 25 × 103.2 tachyzoites per mouse. The results indicate that outbred BALB/c mice can be used as a suitable model of besnoitiosis and to screen candidate treatments and to test the efficacy of vaccines for besnoitiosis.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Shiraz for providing financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

    Fatemeh Namazi

  2. Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, 7188843568, Shiraz, Iran

    Mohamad Mehdi Namavari, Ebrahim Rahimi & Yahya Tahamtan

  3. Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Karaj, Iran

    Mohsen Lotfi

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  1. Fatemeh Namazi
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  2. Mohamad Mehdi Namavari
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  3. Ebrahim Rahimi
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  4. Mohsen Lotfi
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  5. Yahya Tahamtan
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Correspondence to Mohamad Mehdi Namavari.

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Namazi, F., Namavari, M.M., Rahimi, E. et al. Standardization of the outbred BALB/c mice as a suitable animal model for Besnoitia caprae studies. Vet Res Commun 35, 425–431 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-011-9490-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-011-9490-x

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