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Title: PREVALENCE OF NEOSPORA CANINUM AND TOXOPLASMA GONDII ANTIBODIES IN SERA FROM CAMELS FROM EGYPT

Author
item HILALI, M - CAIRO UNIVERSITY
item ROMAND, S - INSTITUT DE PUERICULTURE
item THULLIEZ, P - INSTITUT DE PUERICULTURE
item Kwok, Oliver
item Dubey, Jitender

Submitted to: Veterinary Parasitology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/22/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Neospora caninum is a recently discovered protozoan (single celled) parasite of animals. It causes abortion and neonatal mortality in livestock and paralysis and death in companion animals. Its life cycle and sources of infections are unknown. Infection by N. caninum has been found in many countries, including the U.S. Scientists at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center and Cairo University, Egypt report N. caninum infection for the first time in camels in Egypt. Results of this study will be useful to veterinarians, pathologists and parasitologists.

Technical Abstract: Sera from camels from Egypt were examined by the direct agglutination tests incorporating mercaptoethanol for antibodies to Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii. Antibodies to N. caninum were found in 6 of 161 camels in titers of 1:80, 1:160, 1:640, and 1:1280 in 1 camel each, and 1:40 (2 camels), using N. caninum formalin preserved whole tachyzoites as antigen. Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 17.4% of 166 camels in titers of 1:2 (3 camels), 1:50 (18 camels), and ò1:500 (8 camels) using T. gondii tachyzoites. All 6 camels with N. caninum antibodies had no T. gondii antibodies in 1:4 dilution of serum, indicating specificity of the reaction. This is the first report of N. caninum prevalence in Egypt.