Published in Scientific Works. C Series. Veterinary Medicine, Vol. LVIII ISSUE 4
Written by Violeta Enăchescu, Mariana Ioniță, Ioan Liviu Mitrea
Neospora caninum is an apicomplexan parasite related to Toxoplasma gondii, well known as an important cause of abortion in cattle. In live animals the routine diagnostic of infection is detection of anti-N. caninum antibodies in serum. This study aimed to investigate the exposure to N. caninum infection in cattle from south area of Romania, and to survey the seroprevalence in some herds. A total of 542 sera from dairy cattle (16 herds in 9 counties) were sampled at different intervals. In the first sampling only farm animals were included, but in the second sampling courtyard cattle were added (n=47). Anti-N. caninum antibodies were detected using an indirect ELISA test. Anti-N. caninum antibodies were found in all herds. A total of 189 samples (34.9%, CI95%=30.85-39.05) were positive, with 104/258 (40.3%, CI95%=43.27-46.58) in the first sampling and 85/284 (29.9%, CI95%=24.66-35.63) in the second sampling. The highest rate of infection was in Giurgiu County, with 18/29 infected animals (62.1%). Prevalence increased with age and abortions were more frequent in seropozitive caws (9/74, 12.2%) than in seronegative ones (5/83, 6%). Seroprevalence was significantly higher in farm (37.2%, 184/495) than in courtyard cattle (10.6%, 5/47). At the second investigation in the same farms prevalence decreased significantly, compared with the first one (35.1%, 46/131 vs. 49%, 47/96). N. caninum infection is widespread in dairy farms from the studied area and may be a cause of abortion in some herds. The prevalence decreased at the second investigation in the same farms.
[Read full article] [Citation]
cattle
