Risk factors involved in transmission of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum infection in rabbit farms in Northern Italy

The objectives of this study were: (i) To investigate possible geographical or environmental factors influencing the infections by Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in sheep and goats in northern Italy; (ii) to identify areas at risk of infection to set up preventive measures. Forty-three sheep and goat farms were included. Their locations were plotted and associated with T. gondii and N. caninum seroprevalence, then the distribution of farms’ prevalence was evaluated by spatial analysis. Significant clusters for both low and high prevalence were obtained, and a generalized linear model with ordinal logistic regression was implemented to verify if spatial clustering could be due to climate factors (temperature, rainfall, and their interaction). Clusters of high (80.0%) and low prevalence (28.12%) resulted for T. gondii seroprevalence in sheep farms. No significant clusters resulted for goat farms. Clusters of high (38.68%) and low prevalence (21.23%) resulted for N. caninum seroprevalence in sheep farms. One high-prevalence cluster (15.62%) resulted for goat farms. For goats, spatial analysis and analysis on climatic data showed the absence of environmental significant risk factors associated with T. gondii or N. caninum infection. On the contrary, for sheep, annual temperature, rainfall, and their association affected the risk of T. gondii and N. caninum infection. Particularly, high temperatures and abundant rainfalls were related to T. gondii seroprevalence, while low temperatures and scarce rainfalls were related to N. caninum seroprevalence.

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Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum prevalence and risk factors on goat farms in Kanchanaburi province, Thailand

Veterinary Integrative Sciences ◽

10.12982/vis.2021.006 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 65-74

Author(s):

Ruenruetai Udonsom ◽

◽

Jarawee Supanta ◽

Onrampha Tanglakmankhong ◽

Kanamon Ngoenphisutsin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Neospora Caninum ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Protozoan Parasites ◽

Confidential Interval ◽

Caninum Infection ◽

Specific Igg ◽

And Control ◽

On Farm

Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are apicomplexan protozoan parasites that have been associated with reproductive problems in ruminants. Despite the high seroprevalence of T. gondii and N. caninum reported in goats worldwide, little information about the seroprevalence of these parasites in goats in Thailand. In this study, we investigated the seroprevalence of T. gondii and N. caninum in 389 goat samples from five districts of Kanchanaburi province, Thailand. An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA) using recombinant TgGRA7 and NcSAG1 antigens was used for the detection of anti-T.gondii and anti-N.caninum antibodies, respectively. Risk factors for the occurrence of these protozoan parasites on goat farms were also assessed. Specific IgG against T. gondii and N. caninum was detected in 28.5% and 16.7% samples, respectively. Co-infections were observed in 11.8% of samples. The risk factors significantly associated with T. gondii seroprevalence was the presence of cats (odds ratio [OR]= 2.55, 95% confidential interval [CI]=1.67- 3.89). The presence of other domestic animals on farm contributed to the risk of T. gondii and N. caninum infection on goat farms (OR=1.692, 95% CI= 1.08- 2.63). The present study provides data on the seroprevalence and risk of T. gondii and N. caninum infections among goats in Kanchanaburi province, Thailand. Integrated and efficient measures are required to prevent and control infections on goat farms.

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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 and Toxoplasma gondii in goats of Maranhão State, Brazil

Veterinary Parasitology Regional Studies and Reports ◽

10.1016/j.vprsr.2021.100634 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 100634

Author(s):

Arlan Araújo Rodrigues ◽

Sara Silva Reis ◽

Elinalva da Silva Moraes ◽

José Gracione do Nascimento Souza Filho ◽

Maria Helena dos Santos Reis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Neospora Caninum

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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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Risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum seropositivity in buffaloes in Paraiba State, Brazil

Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária ◽

10.1590/s1984-29612015066 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 24 (4) ◽

pp. 459-463 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Arthur Willian de Lima Brasil ◽

Roberta Nunes Parentoni ◽

Thais Ferreira Feitosa ◽

Camila de Sousa Bezerra ◽

Vinicius Longo Ribeiro Vilela ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Odds Ratio ◽

Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test ◽

Neospora Caninum ◽

Fluorescent Antibody ◽

Antibody Test ◽

Management Systems ◽

Intensive Management ◽

Factors Associated

Abstract The aims of this survey were to determine the frequency of anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-Neospora caninum antibodies and to identify the risk factors associated with seropositivity among buffaloes in the state of Paraíba, Brazil. This survey included 136 buffaloes belonging to 14 herds. To detect anti-T. gondii and anti-N. caninum antibodies, the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) was used. Among the 136 samples analyzed, 17 (12.5%) were positive for anti-T. gondii antibodies with titers ranging from 64 to 1,024, and 26 (19.1%) for anti-N. caninum with titers from 200 to 1,600. Animals seropositive for both T. gondii and N. caninum were found in 10 of the 14 herds (71.4%). Semi-intensive management systems (odds ratio = 2.99) and presence of pigs (odds ratio = 4.33) were identified as risk factors for T. gondii and N. caninum, respectively. It can be suggested that T. gondii and N. caninum are widespread in buffaloes in Paraíba, and that additional surveys are needed in order to ascertain the importance of these agents for this species and for pigs, and the influence of the farming type on occurrences of seropositive animals.

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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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Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum infections in synanthropic rodents from Argentina

Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária ◽

10.1590/s1984-29612019009 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 113-118 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Andrea Dellarupe ◽

Bruno Fitte ◽

Lais Pardini ◽

Lucía María Campero ◽

Mariana Bernstein ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Neospora Caninum ◽

Rattus Rattus ◽

Wide Distribution ◽

Type I ◽

Type Ii ◽

Caninum Infection ◽

Coccidian Parasites ◽

Rats And Mice ◽

Synanthropic Rodents

Abstract Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are closely related coccidian parasites (phylum Apicomplexa). This is the first study from urban synanthropic rodent species that involved serological and molecular diagnosis of T. gondii and N. caninum infection, and genotyping of T. gondii in Argentina. A total of 127 rodent samples were trap captured: Mus musculus (n = 78), Rattus norvegicus (n = 26) and Rattus rattus (n = 23). Antibodies against T. gondii and N. caninum were detected by IFAT in 32.8% (40/122) and 0.8% (1/122) of rodent samples, respectively, demonstrating contact with these protozoans. Additionally, T. gondii DNA was detected in 3.3% (4/123) of rodent central nervous system samples and 2 samples were genotyped by multilocus nPCR-RFLP. Neospora caninum DNA was not detected by PCR. The 2 genotyped samples were type III allele for all markers except for SAG-1 (type I for Rat1Arg and type II/III for Rat2Arg) and were identified as #48 and #2 (likely) according to the allele combinations reported on Toxo DB (Toxo-DB). The results of the present study revealed a wide distribution of T. gondii and less for N. caninum, in synanthropic rats and mice in the studied area.

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