Evidence of vertical transmission of Neospora species infection in dairy cattle NEOSPOROSIS is an important cause of abortion in dairy cattle. This study investigated whether Neospora species could be trans- mitted by an infected pregnant animal to its offspring during ges- tation. Two groups of 25 neonatal heifers in a herd with a history of Neospora species infections were selected on the basis of their serum titres in the indirect fluorescent antibody test; the seroposi- tive group had titres > 1:5120 whereas the seronegative group had titres 1:80. The heifers were reared and bred on the farm and samples were taken when they calved. All the seropositive heifers gave birth to calves that had high Neospora titres and seven which were examined postmortem had histopathological evidence of the infection. In contrast all the seronegative heifers had seronegative calves. The results indicate that congenitally acquired Neospora infections can persist in clinically normal heifers and can be trans- mitted transplacentally to the next generation. ANDERSON, M. L., REYNOLDS, J. P., ROWE, J. D., SVERLOW, K. W., PACKHAM, A. E., BARR, B. C. & CONRAD, P. A. (1997) Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 210, 1169 Effect of two dietary regimens on gingivitis in the dog THE development of gingivitis and the accumulation of dental plaque, calculus and stain were compared in dogs fed two com- mercially available dietary regimens. One consisted of feeding an oral hygiene chew and a standard dry diet, and the other was based on a dry main meal designed to improve oral hygiene. After cross-over tests lasting three weeks there were equal amounts of gingivitis, plaque and calculus in the 15 dogs when they were fed the two diets. However there was significantly more stain on the teeth of the dogs fed the dry main meal and they lost a significant amount of weight. RAWLINGS, J. M., GORREL, C. & MARKWELL, P. J. (1997) Journal ofSmall Animal Practice 38, 147 177