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Table 1 Summary of the most relevant results regarding pathological findings (clinical signs and lesions), serological and molecular results (parasite detection) in experimentally infected groups (A and B), and naturally infected group with an acute infection (group C)

From: Identification of molecular biomarkers associated with disease progression in the testis of bulls infected with Besnoitia besnoiti

Study group1

(Natural infection -N-/Experimental infection -E-)

Bull (B)/calf (C) number

Infection stage

Clinical signs and lesions

Serological results

Parasite detection

Systemic level

Macroscopic/microscopic lesions in the testicles

IgM/IgG/ IgG avidity

PCR2

Histopathology3

A (E)

C1-34

Subclinical

Congestive ocular sclera, conjunctival cysts

–5/Inflammatory infiltrate

 + / + / low avidity

+ / − / −6

–

C4-6

Congestive ocular sclera, conjunctival cysts

–/Inflammatory infiltrate and oedemas

 + / + / low avidity

− / − / −

–

C7-9

Congestive ocular sclera, conjunctival cysts, skin lesions

–/Skin lesions, inflammatory infiltrate and oedemas

 + / + / low avidity

 + / + / + 

131,5 TP; 156,1 SK

B (E)

C1-3

Non-infected

Without clinical signs or lesions

Without lesions

− / − / n.a

−/−/−

–

C (N)

B1

Acute

Fever and edema in posterior limbs

Orchitis/Vascular lesions, inflammatory infiltrate, lesion on scrotal skin, fibroplasia, aspermia

 + / + / low avidity

 + / – / + 

50.0 SK

B2

Respiratory problems, edema in the area of the scapula

nd /Vascular lesions, inflammatory infiltrate, lesion on scrotal skin, fibroplasia, aspermia

No serum available

− / + / + 

97.1 PP/20.0 TP/90.7 SK

B3

Edema in declining areas

Orchitis/Vascular lesions, inflammatory infiltrate

No serum available

 + / + / + 

–

B4

nd

Orchitis and vascular lesions/Vascular lesions, inflammatory infiltrate, lesion on scrotal skin, fibroplasia, aspermia

 + / – /na

 + / + / + 

–

B5

nd

Vascular lesions and adherences in testicles/Vascular lesions, inflammatory infiltrate

 + / – /na

 + / + / + 

–

B6

Fever

Orchitis and vascular lesions/Vascular lesions, inflammatory infiltrate, aspermia

 + / – /na

− / + / + 

25.0 SK

B7

Fever

Orchitis and vascular lesions/Vascular lesions, inflammatory infiltrate, fibroplasia

 + / – /na

− / + / + 

–

  1. nd, not determined; na, not applicable.
  2. 1More detailed data on these selected naturally and experimentally infected animals can be found in González-Barrio et al. [11], and Diezma-Diaz et al. [17, 20, 21].
  3. 2 + or – mean that pampiniform plexus, testicular parenchyma and scrotal skin are Besnoitia spp. PCR positive or negative, respectively.
  4. 3Average cyst diameter (μm) in SK (scrotal skin), PP (pampiniform plexus), TP (testicular parenchyma); –cysts not found.
  5. 4Calves C1–3 were inoculated by intravenous route, calves C4-6 were inoculated by subcutaneous route and calves C7-9 were inoculated by intradermal route.
  6. 5– macroscopic lesions not found.
  7. 6 + or − mean at least one animal per group was PCR positive or negative, respectively.
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Veterinary Research

ISSN: 1297-9716