Antibodies to Neospora caninum in European brown hare (Lepus europaeus).
Neospora caninum antibodies in European brown hares (Lepus europaeus) were reported for the first time in sera collected from hares imported in Italy from East Europe. Sera from 93 hares coming from Hungary and 44 hares coming from Slovakia were tested using a direct agglutination test (DAT). Seroprevalence was 8.0% at the 1:40 dilution and 1.5% at 1:320 dilution. Seroprevalence in females and males and in different countries of origin did not differ significantly. Our results indicate that European brown hares are exposed to N. caninum. The low prevalence observed suggests a hares minimal exposure, but, considering that hares are common prey for foxes, it could be supposed that, also with a low prevalence, hares can be an important source of N. caninum infection in foxes.
Ezio
Ferroglio
F
Dipartimento di Produzioni Animali, Epidemiologia ed Ecologia, Università di Torino, Via L. Da Vinci 44, 10095 Grugliasco (Turin), Italy. ferroglio@veter.unito.it
Anna
Trisciuoglio
T
D000372:Agglutination Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D034621:Hares / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*; D006814:Hungary / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D018688:Neospora / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D018154:Slovakia / Q000453:epidemiology
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan