Control of Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii in farm livestock

Abstract

Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii are important causes of reproductive failure and production losses in farm livestock worldwide. In addition, consumption of undercooked meat containing T. gondii cysts is an important route of transmission to people. T. gondii is currently recognized as one of the most important food borne pathogens with one in five people worldwide thought to be infected. Our research approach has involved establishing experimental models of infection in livestock species to enable the study of the host parasite interaction in a relevant host. This has improved our understanding of how the parasites establish infection in the host and how the innate and adaptive immune responses are induced in response to the parasite and the outcomes of this critical interaction. This paper will highlight and discuss how knowledge of the host-pathogen interaction in livestock species has helped in the development of disease prevention and control strategies for N. caninum and T. gondii involving biosecurity, diagnostics and vaccination approaches.