Antibodies to Neospora caninum in stray cats from north Italy.
Antibodies to Neospora caninum were determined in serum samples from 282 stray cats coming from four colonies near Turin (north-west Italy). Sera were tested using a Neospora Agglutination Test (NAT). Seroprevalence was 24.8% at 1:80, 12.8% at 1:160 and 5.3% at 1:320 dilution. Seroprevalence in females and males, in different colonies and in different age classes, did not differ significantly. Our results confirm that domestic cats are exposed to N. caninum and the observed seroprevalences suggest that risk of exposure is high and N. caninum should be considered in differential diagnosis in cats with neurological signs.
Ferroglio
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Dipartimento di Produzioni Animali, Epidemiologia ed Ecologia, Università di Torino, Via L. Da Vinci 44, 10095 Grugliasco (TO), Italy. ezio.ferroglio@unito.it
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Pasino
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D000367:Age Factors; D000372:Agglutination Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D002415:Cats; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D018688:Neospora / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D014505:Urban Population
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan