Prevalence of Neospora antibodies in New Zealand dairy cattle and dogs

Authors: Reichel MP
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 46, Issue 1, pp 38, Feb 1998
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Cattle, Companion animal, Dog, Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant
Subject Terms: Abdomen, Abortion/stillbirth, Alimentary system/gastroenterology, Reproduction, Immune system/immunology, Protozoa, Disease/defect, Infectious disease, Reproduction - female
Article class: Correspondence

---

Abstract: Neospora caninum is a major cause of disease in cattle and dogs, manifesting with abortions in cattle, and hind limb paresis in mostly young dogs. Previous reports from New Zealand suggest that around 30% of bovine abortions may be due to Neospora and that about 40% of recently aborted dairy cows have antibodies against Neospora. In an effort to establish the national prevalence of Neospora infection, 400 sera from dairy cattle (dating from 1985 and 1995), selected to be representative of the distribution of dairy cattle in New Zealand and which did not have a history of recent abortion, were tested in ELISA for Neospora antibodies as previously described. The serological testing of that serum bank showedthat between 6.75% (95% CI ± 2.4%) in 1995 and 8.5% (95% CI ± 2.7%) in 1985 of New Zealand dairy cattle had antibodies against N. caninum. The serological reactions in sera from 1985 precede previous diagnoses of Neospora as the cause of abortions in New Zealand cattle by a few years. The serological testing results from 1985 and 1995 show…

---