In vitro isolation of Neospora caninum from a stillborn calf in the UK

Neospora caninum was isolated in Vero cell culture from the brain of a stil lborn calf. This isolate (designated NC-LiVB1) is the first to be obtained from cattle in the United Kingdom and was confirmed as N. caninum by immuno fluorescence with specific antibodies and by internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS 1) sequence analysis. Differences were found between NC-LiVB1, other b ovine isolates and canine isolates of N. caninum and closely related protoz oal parasites, using random amplified polymorphic DNA polymerase chain reac tion (RAPD-PCR) techniques.