High prevalence of antibodies to Neospora caninum in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus).
Serum samples of 400 white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from 16 preserves in northeastern Illinois were tested for Neospora caninum antibodies in the N. caninum agglutination test using mouse-derived N. caninum tachyzoites and mercaptoethanol. Antibodies were found in 162 deer with titres of 1:40 (47 deer), 1:80 (32 deer), 1:160 (17 deer), 1:200 (eight deer), 1:400 (19 deer), 1:800 (17 deer) and > or = 1:1600 (22 deer). There were no significant differences in prevalence between age or sex of the deer. The high prevalence of N. caninum infection in deer is consistent with a sylvatic cycle of N. caninum.
Dubey
J P
JP
Parasite Biology and Epidemiology Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Livestock and Poultry Sciences Institute, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, MD 20705-2350, USA. jdubey@lpsi.barc.usda.gov
Hollis
K
K
Romand
S
S
Thulliez
P
P
Kwok
O C
OC
Hungerford
L
L
Anchor
C
C
Etter
D
D
D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003670:Deer / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D007087:Illinois / Q000453:epidemiology; D018688:Neospora / Q000276:immunology*; D015995:Prevalence
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan