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Title: SEROPREVALENCE OF NEOSPORA CANINUM ANTIBODIES IN DOGS IN INDIA

Author
item SHARMA, S - INDIA
item BAL, M - INDIA
item MEENAKSHI, K - INDIA
item SANDHU, K - INDIA
item Dubey, Jitender

Submitted to: Journal of Parasitology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/20/2007
Publication Date: 4/1/2008
Citation: Sharma, S., Bal, M.S., Meenakshi, K.K., Sandhu, K.S., Dubey, J.P. 2008. Seroprevalence of neospora caninum antibodies in dogs in india. Journal of Parasitology. 94:303-304.

Interpretive Summary: Neospora caninum is a single-celled parasite. It causes abortion in cattle and paralysis in companion animals. It is the most important cause of abortion in dairy cattle. Dogs and coyotes are its definitive hosts and main reservoirs of infection. This parasite is transmitted efficiently from the cow to the calf transplacentally. Scientists at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center and an university in India report seroprevalence of N. caninum in dogs in India for the first time..The results will be of interest to biologists, parasitologists, and veterinarians.

Technical Abstract: Neospora caninum is one of most important causes of abortion in cattle worldwide and dogs are an important risk factor for N. caninum infection in cattle. Antibodies to N. caninum were determined in 184 (126 rural, 58 urban) dogs from the Punjab State, India, by a commercial monoclonal antibody based competitive ELISA and found in 16.8% of 184 dogs. The prevalence of N. caninum antibodies was significantly higher in rural dogs (21.4%, 27 of 126) than city dogs (6.9%, 4 of 58). To our knowledge this is the first report of N. caninum infection in dogs from India.