Ingestion of Neospora caninum tissue cysts by Mustela species

Dogs are a definitive host of Neospora caninum, a protozoal parasite that c auses abortion in cattle. Mustelids were tested to determine if they could also be definitive hosts. The procedures used were the same as those previo usly used to test dogs. Ermine (Mustela erminea), weasels (Mustela frenata) and ferrets (Mustela putorius) were fed N, caninum-infected mice. Neospora caninum oocysts were not observed. Mustelid faeces were fed to mice. The m ice did not seroconvert and N. caninum was not detected in murine brains us ing tissue culture and PCR. The hypothesis that Mustela spp. are definitive hosts of N. caninum is not supported. (C) 1999 Australian Society for Para sitology Inc. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.