Protracted shedding of oocysts of Neospora caninum by a naturally infected foxhound.

Feces from 15 dogs at 2 different foxhound kennels in the U.K. were examined microscopically for the presence of oocysts of Neospora caninum. One sample containing approximately 400 candidate oocysts per gram was positive in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using N. caninum-specific primers. In a sample taken 4 mo later from the same hound. N. caninum oocysts were again detected visually and by PCR. This is the third reported case of a dog naturally excreting oocysts of N. caninum and suggests that oocyst excretion can occur over a relatively long period of time in some circumstances or that reshedding may occur.