Immune responses during pregnancy in heifers naturally infected with Neospora caninum with and without immunization

This study was designed to identify changes in parasite-specific immune responses that occur during vertical transmission of Neospora caninum and can be used as indicators of parasite reactivation in naturally infected heifers. Ten heifers were unimmunized and 11 immunized with killed tachyzoites. One unimmunized heifer, which aborted at week 19 of gestation, had an increase in parasite-specific antibodies, mainly IgG2, from week 15 to week 19 and a concomitant decline in parasite-specific cell-mediated immune (CMI) responses. Eight unimmunized heifers, which had live full-term congenitally infected calves, had an increase in antibodies, mainly IgG2, from week 21 onwards. All immunized heifers delivered live full-term congenitally infected calves, and had a bimodal increase in antibodies; primarily IgG1 following immunization and predominantly IgG2 from week 17 onwards. Immunized heifers had significantly greater overall mean humoral and CMI responses than unimmunized heifers. Nine uninfected control heifers and their calves were seronegative. These results indicate that reactivation of a latent infection occurred in the naturally infected heifers, regardless of their immunization status, and was associated with increased parasite-specific antibodies, mainly IgG2.