Molecular and histopathological identification of ovine neosporosis (Neospora caninum) in aborted ewes in Iraq

Aim: The objective of the present study was to detect Neospora caninum DNA in the placenta of sheep and evaluate the association of risk factors to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positive and histopathological analysis of the placenta and fetal tissue samples of aborted fetuses. Materials and Methods: Fresh placenta from 51 aborted ewes was collected for PCR assay. Placental and fetal tissues of aborted fetuses, including brain, heart, liver, lung, and thymus, were collected for histopathological analysis, besides the risk factor data were obtained during the time of sampling. Results: From 51 placentas examined by PCR, 13.73% appeared positive to N. caninum DNA. The relationship between PCR positive and the risk factors revealed a significant difference (p<0.05) in age of the dam, fetal age, feed source, water source, and the presence of other animals at farm, whereas the type of birth, stillbirth, and size of flock showed insignificant difference (p>0.05). Histopathological investigation of placental and fetal tissues of positive samples showed tissue cyst-like structure, necrotic foci, and infiltration of mononuclear cells. Other lesions were thickening in chorionic plate in placenta, severe vacuolization and death of neurons, microgliosis, demyelination, edema, and proliferation of astrocytes in brain. In addition, fibrous and fat deposition with stenosis in the heart, parenchymal necrosis, severe atrophy, vacuolization and hyalinization of hepatocytes, megakaryocyte, portal fibrosis in the liver, and interlobular septal thickening in lung without obvious lesions is seen in the thymus tissue samples. Conclusion: This is a unique study that confirmed N. caninum DNA in the placenta of aborted ewes in Iraq using PCR assay. Histopathological analysis of some aborted fetuses organs could provide a more confirmatory and reliable data for a significant role of neosporosis in increasing the rate of abortion in sheep, while the clinical data of risk factors could be used to control the transmission of N. caninum infection.

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Seroprevalence of and risk factors for Neospora caninum infection in yaks ( Bos grunniens ) in China

Veterinary Parasitology ◽

10.1016/j.vetpar.2017.05.022 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 242 ◽

pp. 22-23 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Qing-Feng Meng ◽

Gui-Zhe Yao ◽

Si-Yuan Qin ◽

Jian Wu ◽

Xi-Chen Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Neospora Caninum ◽

Caninum Infection ◽

Bos Grunniens

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Serosurveillance and risk factors for Neospora caninum infection in water buffaloes (B. bubalis) from central and southern Mexico

Veterinary Parasitology Regional Studies and Reports ◽

10.1016/j.vprsr.2021.100631 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 100631

Author(s):

José Luis Salguero-Romero ◽

Dora Romero-Salas ◽

Anabel Cruz-Romero ◽

Miguel A. Alonso-Díaz ◽

Mariel Aguilar-Domínguez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Neospora Caninum ◽

Caninum Infection ◽

Southern Mexico ◽

Water Buffaloes

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Seroprevalence and risk factors for Neospora caninum infection in dogs of rural areas of the Brazilian Semi-arid Region

Acta Veterinaria Brasilica ◽

10.21708/avb.2020.14.1.8936 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 30-35

Author(s):

Samara dos Santos Silva ◽

Leonardo Vinícius Silva de Oliveira ◽

Radabley Rith Almeida de Oliveira ◽

Émerson Timóteo de Alcântara ◽

Pollyanne Raysa Fernandes de Oliveira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Arid Region ◽

Neospora Caninum ◽

Caninum Infection ◽

Semi Arid Region ◽

Semi Arid

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Prevalence and risk factors of Neospora caninum infection in ovine flocks of central-western Mexico

Acta Veterinaria Hungarica ◽

10.1556/004.2019.006 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 67 (1) ◽

pp. 51-59 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jesús Manuel Romo-Gallegos ◽

Carlos Cruz-Vázquez ◽

Leticia Medina-Esparza ◽

Miguel Ramos-Parra ◽

Dora Romero-Salas

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Confidence Interval ◽

Odds Ratio ◽

Animal Species ◽

Neospora Caninum ◽

Domestic Animal ◽

Caninum Infection ◽

Blood Samples ◽

Western Mexico ◽

The Mean

This study, carried out in 13 sheep flocks of central-western Mexico, aimed to identify the prevalence of anti-N. caninum antibodies, to develop a risk analysis of the infection and to estimate the prevalence of parasite DNA in blood. A total of 368 serum and blood samples were subjected to ELISA and PCR tests, respectively, and the association between the prevalence of antibodies and some management factors was estimated. The overall prevalence of anti-N. caninum antibodies was 13.5% [50/368; 95% confidence interval (CI) 10–17], ranging from 2.7 to 90% per flock, and 92% of the farms had seropositive animals. In ewes the prevalence was 14% (48/348, 95% CI 10–17) and in rams 10% (2/20; 95% CI 1– 33). The mean prevalence of Neospora DNA in blood was 27% (99/368, 95% CI 22–31), implying a range between 16 and 82%. In rams, the prevalence was 5% (1/20 95% CI 2–26), while in ewes it was 28% (98/348, 95% CI 23–33). The agreement between the tests was k = 0.19. The presence of other domestic animal species in the farms [odds ratio (OR) 4.4] and the consumption of placental debris, fetuses and stillborn lambs by dogs living in the farms (OR 5.8) were demonstrated to be risk factors.

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Seroprevalence and risk factors for Neospora caninum infection in dogs in rural northeastern mainland China

Parasite ◽

10.1051/parasite/2019034 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 26 ◽

pp. 32 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Xiang Gao ◽

Hongbin Wang

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Neospora Caninum ◽

High Reliability ◽

Horizontal Transmission ◽

Mainland China ◽

Antibody Test ◽

Caninum Infection ◽

Study Region ◽

Hunting Dogs ◽

Cattle Farms

Although Neospora caninum is an important veterinary pathogen, veterinarians in various areas including in Mainland China lack a full understanding of neosporosis distribution in dog populations. This study aims to determine the emergence of anti-N. caninum antibodies in canine populations classified based on breeders, herdsmen, and huntsmen in northeast mainland China. In addition, the risk factors associated with seropositivity were explored. An indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) was performed on canine serum to determine seroprevalence. Logistic regression models were used to collect and analyze individual and management data, in order to determine high-reliability predictors of seroprevalence as well as the level of anti-N. caninum antibodies. Among the 476 dogs tested, 95 (20%) were seropositive. Mixed breed (OR 1.53), former strays (OR 1.38), dogs living on cattle farms (OR 2.30), hunting dogs (OR 1.22) as well as raw meat feeding (OR 1.66) were correlated (p < 0.05) with N. caninum infection. Interestingly, the seropositivity of dogs on cattle farms was higher (28%) than that of those (24.8%) living in breeding facilities (p < 0.05). A large number of seropositive dogs were found on cattle farms in the study region, suggesting horizontal transmission between dogs and cattle. Therefore, this source of infection should be studied further, and should be a strong consideration in differential diagnoses of dogs raised on cattle farms.

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Risk factor analysis associated with Neospora caninum in dairy cattle in Western Brazilian Amazon

Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária ◽

10.1590/s1984-296120201088 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 30 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Poliana de Jesus Souza Venturoso ◽

Osvaldo Juliatti Venturoso ◽

Gisele Glomba Silva ◽

Maerle Oliveira Maia ◽

Rute Witter ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Dairy Cattle ◽

Neospora Caninum ◽

Fluorescent Antibody ◽

Antibody Test ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Present Survey ◽

Caninum Infection ◽

Factors Associated ◽

And Control

Abstract Neospora caninum is considered to be one of the main causes of abortion among cattle. The present survey was conducted in the municipality of Rolim de Moura, Rondônia State, Brazil. A questionnaire that investigates the epidemiological aspects of neosporosis was used in the analysis of risk factors associated with the animal-level and herd-level prevalence in dairy cattle. A total of 416 bovine blood samples were collected from 30 farms, and N. caninum antibody levels were measured by Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test (IFAT). Analysis of dairy cattle serum samples revealed the presence of anti-N. caninum antibodies to be 47.36% (n = 197). Risk factors associated with N. caninum infection were the management system and access locations of dogs. The results of the present survey indicated that infection of dairy cattle with N. caninum is widespread in the studied region of Western Amazon, which has implications for prevention and control of neosporosis in this region. Therefore, integrated control strategies and measures are recommended to prevent and control N. caninum infection in dairy cattle. In addition, direct contact between dairy cattle, dogs and wild animals, which can influence the epidemiology of neosporosis, should be investigated further.

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Global Seroprevalence and Associated Risk Factors with Neospora Caninum Infection in Sheep: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

SSRN Electronic Journal ◽

10.2139/ssrn.3945464 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Valeria Analía Sander ◽

Luisa F. Mendoza Morales ◽

Valentina Lagorio ◽

Mariana G. Corigliano ◽

Edwin Sanchez-Lopez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Neospora Caninum ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Caninum Infection ◽

Associated Risk Factors

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Prevalence of Neospora caninum antibodies in sheep flocks of Uberlândia county, MG

Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária ◽

10.1590/s1984-29612010000300004 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 19 (3) ◽

pp. 148-151 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Sandra Renata Sampaio Salaberry ◽

Liria Hiromi Okuda ◽

Alessandra Figueiredo de Castro Nassar ◽

Jacqueline Ribeiro de Castro ◽

Anna Monteiro Correia Lima-Ribeiro

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Indirect Immunofluorescence ◽

Neospora Caninum ◽

Immunofluorescence Assay ◽

Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay ◽

Parasitic Disease ◽

Blood Samples ◽

Sheep Blood ◽

Wild Canids ◽

Significant Difference

Neosporosis is a parasitic disease that occurs in sheep and is associated with reproductive failure. The aim of this study was to verify seroprevalence of Neospora caninum antibodies in 12 sheep flocks in Uberlândia county, Minas Gerais, Brazil, using Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA). A total of 334 sheep blood samples were analyzed and an epidemiologic questionnaire was applied for each farm in order to correlate with risk factors of neosporosis: gender, age, breed, abortion problems, contact with cattle and dogs, and presence of wild canids. The prevalence of Neospora caninum antibodies in sheep was 8.1%, with titers ranging from 50 to 3200 and 83.3% of farms detected at least one ovine reactive. There was statistically significant difference in flocks with abortion problems associated with the presence of Neospora caninum antibodies (p < 0.05).

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