Prevalence of antibodies against Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii in dogs and foxes in Austria.
Sera from 1770 dogs and 94 red foxes from Austria were examined for antibodies against Neospora caninum using the indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT). 3.6% of the dogs were seropositive with titres ranging from 1:50 to 1:6400. Dogs from rural areas were significantly more often seropositive for N. caninum than those from the urban area of Vienna (5.3% versus 2.1%). There were no significant differences in sex or breed, but a slight increase in seropositivity with age was apparent, indicating postnatal infection. None of the foxes had antibodies against N. caninum. Additionally, sera from 242 dogs and 94 foxes were examined for antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii using the IFAT. Thirty-five percent foxes and 26% of the dogs were positive; 1.7% of the dogs were positive for both parasites. This is the first report of the prevalence of N. caninum infections in dogs and foxes in Austria.
Wanha
K
K
Institute of Parasitology and Zoology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210-Vienna, Austria.
Edelhofer
R
R
Gabler-Eduardo
C
C
Prosl
H
H
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / Q000662:veterinary; D005589:Foxes / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D018688:Neospora / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012424:Rural Population; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*; D014505:Urban Population
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan