PREVALENCE OF NEOSPORA CANINUM INFECTION IN DOGS FROM BEEF-CATTLE FARMS, DAIRY FARMS, AND FROM URBAN AREAS OF ARGENTINA

Authors: BASSO, W - UNIV.,LAPLATA, ARGENTINA; VENTURINI, L - UNIV.,LAPLATA, ARGENTINA; VENTURINI, M - UNIV.,LAPLATA, ARGENTINA; MOORE, P - INST. AGRO., ARGENTINA; RAMBEAU, M - UNIV.,LAPLATA, ARGENTINA; UNZAGA, J - UNIV.,LAPLATA, ARGENTINA; CAMPERO, C - INST. AGRO., ARGENTINA; BACIGALUPE, D - UNIV.,LAPLATA, ARGENTINA; Dubey, Jitender

Submitted to: Journal of Parasitology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/2001
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Neospora caninum is a single-celled parasite of livestock and companion animals. It is a major cause of abortion in cattle worldwide. The dog is considered the main reservoir of infection for cattle. Scientists at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center and the Agricultural University in Argentina, La Plata, report high prevalence of Neospora caninum antibodies in dogs from cattle farms than in city dogs and support the theory that dogs are important in the epidemiology of this disease in Argentina. These results will be of use to parasitologist, biologists, veterinarians and cattle farmers.

Technical Abstract: Prevalence of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies was determined in sera of 320 dogs from Argentina using the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Antibodies to N. caninum were found in 121 of 320 (37.8%) sera with titers of 1:50 (21 dogs), 1:100 (23 dogs), 1:200 (23 dogs), 1:400 (17 dogs), 1:800 (23 dogs) and 1:1,600 (14 dogs). The seropositivity (IFAT, 1:50) was higher in dogs from dairy (48% of 125) and beef (54.2% of 35) farms than in dogs from urban areas (26.2% of 160). Prevalence of anti-N. caninum antibodies was higher in dogs more than 12 mo of age (47.7%, 105 of 222) versus in 12-mo-old or younger dogs (12.7% of 86) suggesting post- natal exposure of N. caninum infection in dogs.