title: Seroprevalence of Neospora caninum in dairy and beef cattle with reproductive disorders in Japan.
abstract: Serum samples from 145 dairy and 65 beef cattle with reproductive disorders and 54 normally calving dairy cattle (controls) in Japan were tested for presence of Neospora caninum antibodies by use of an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT, titer 1:200). Overall, seroprevalence of N. caninum was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in dairy cattle (20.0%, 29/145) than in beef cattle (1.5%, 1/65). In cattle which aborted, seroprevalence of N. caninum was significantly higher (P = 0.041) in dairy cattle (26.1%, 23/88, compared with controls (3.7%, 2/54)) than in beef cattle (5.0%, 1/20), indicating that neosporosis might be a more common problem in dairy cattle than in beef cattle in Japan. Seropositive cattle were 9.2 times more likely to abort compared to seronegative cows. Abortions associated with N. caninum seropositivity in this study were most frequently observed in the second trimester, and the mean gestational age of the fetuses aborted from seropositive dams was 5.7 months. In conclusions, N. caninum seems to be causing serious economic losses in the dairy industry in Japan. This is the first report on an objective comparison of seroprevalence of dairy and beef cattle with reproductive disorders in Asia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnosis and Research, Animal Quarantine Service, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Haramachi 11-1, Yokohama 235-0008, Japan. koiwaima@maff-aqs.go.jp
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koiwai
authors.forename: Takahumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hamaoka
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haritani
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsutsui
authors.forename: Mariko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eto
authors.forename: Itsuro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yamane
mesh_terms: D000034:Abortion, Veterinary / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / Q000662:veterinary; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D018688:Neospora / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan