Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #104462
Title: SEROLOGIC SURVEY OF NEOSPORA CANINUM INFECTION IN A CLOSED DAIRY CATTLE HERD IN MARYLAND: RISK OF SEROLOGIC REACTIVITY BY PRODUCTION GROUPS

Author
item DYER, ROBERT - UNIV OF MARYLAND
item Jenkins, Mark
item Kwok, Oliver
item Dubey, Jitender

Submitted to: Veterinary Parasitology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/1/2000
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Neospora caninum is a single-celled parasite of livestock and humans. It is a major cause of abortion in dairy cattle in the U.S. Most of the information on bovine neosporosis in the U.S. is derived from large indoor dairy herds in California. Scientists at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Science and the University of Maryland report a serologic survey for neosporosis in a large dairy herd in Maryland. They found Neospora antibodies in 28.7% of milking cows. These results will be of use to dairy men parasitologists and veterinarians.

Technical Abstract: Prevalence of antibodies to Neospora caninum was determined in a cross sectional consensus survey of 1029 bovines in a dairy herd with endemic Neospora-induced abortion Sera were screened by indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) The prevalence of N. caninum antibody in the IFAT was 17.801 in 107 neonates, 23.8% in 239 yearling heifers, 40.6% in 219 mature heifers, and 28.7% in 464 milking cows. Serologic reactivity was associate with production grouping on the farm with the greatest risk of serologic reactivity appearing in the yearling and mature heifers There was a small, but increasing risk of serologic reactivity with increasing age in the herd. Castrated males were at half the risk of age-matched females of possessing antibodies to N. caninum There was no clear relationship between the serologic status of dams and offspring.