Systemic and local immune responses in sheep after Neospora caninum experimental infection at early, mid and late gestation.

Besides its importance in cattle, Neospora caninum may also pose a high risk as abortifacient for small ruminants. We have recently demonstrated that the outcome of experimental infection of pregnant sheep with 10(6) Nc-Spain7 tachyzoites is strongly dependent on the time of gestation. In the current study, we assessed peripheral and local immune response in those animals. Serological analysis revealed earlier and higher IFN-γ and IgG responses in ewes infected at early (G1) and mid (G2) gestation, when abortion occurred. IL-4 was not detected in sera from any sheep. Inflammatory infiltrates in the placenta mainly consisted of CD8+ and, to a lesser extent, CD4+ T cells and macrophages (CD163+). The infiltrate was more intense in sheep infected at mid-gestation. In the foetal mesenchyme, mostly free tachyzoites were found in animals infected at G1, while those infected in G2 displayed predominantly particulate antigen, and parasitophorous vacuoles were detected in sheep infected at G3. A similar pattern of placental cytokine mRNA expression was found in all groups, displaying a strengthened upregulation of IFN-γ and IL-4 and milder increases of TNF-α and IL-10, reminiscent of a mixed Th1 and Th2 response. IL-12 and IL-6 were only slightly upregulated in G2, and TGF-β was downregulated in G1 and G2, suggestive of limited T regulatory (Treg) cell activity. No significant expression of TLR2 or TLR4 could be detected. In summary, this study confirms the pivotal role of systemic and local immune responses at different times of gestation during N. caninum infection in sheep.

Table 2: Firn temperature, ram resistance, mass balance and submergence velo city measurements on Colle Gnifetti

Distributional patterns of glaciological parameters at the Colle Gnifetti core drilling site are described and their interrelationships are brietly discussed. Observations within a stake network established in 1980 furnish information about snow accumulation (short term balance), submergence velocity of ice tlow (long term balance), ram hardness (melt layer stratigraphy), and firn temperature. In addition, a numerical model was used to estimate local variations of available radiant energy. Melt layer formation is considerably more intensive on the south facing parts of the firn saddie where incoming radiation is high. These melt layers seem to effectively protect some of the fallen snow from wind erosion. As a result, balance ist up to one order of magnitude larger on south facing slopes. Heat applied to the surface is therefore positively correlated with balance, whereas the relation between solar radiation and firn temperature is less dear. Distributional patterns of submergence velocity confirm that the observed spatial variability of surface balance is representative for longer time periods and greatly intluences the time scale and the stratigraphy of firn and ice cores from Colle Gnifetti.

Sheep.

[From Jasper Cropsey Sketch book, 1855-1856]

Sheep.

[From Jasper Cropsey Sketch book, 1855-1856]

Sheep.

[From Jasper Cropsey Sketch book, 1855-1856]

Livestock health encyclopedia; the control of diseases and parasites in cattle, sheep and goats, swine, horses and mules. /

Bibliography: p. 605-613.

Market classes and grades of sheep /

Cover title.

The sheep in the sky [music] /

Mode of access: Internet.

Barbary sheep.

Mode of access: Internet.

A 1992 Dodge Ram B250 van rear impact CNG fuel tank integrity. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Sheep, their management and breeding. The various breeds, methods of rearing, fattening and marketing; diseases and ailments, with remedies, etc.

Mode of access: Internet.

A manual of sheep husbandry in Georgia.

Circular no. 19.

Fine wool sheep husbandry.

Mode of access: Internet.

The archaeology of Standing Rock overhang : a long-term record of bighorn sheep hunting and processing in southeastern Idaho /

Mode of access: Internet.