Prevalence of Neospora antibodies in beef cattle in New Zealand.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence of Neospora infection in a sample of New Zealand beef cattle.


METHODS
The prevalence of Neospora caninum infection in New Zealand beef cattle was estimated by collecting blood at slaughter from 499 beef cattle from 40 different farms at 2 slaughter plants in the North Island and 1 in the lower South Island . Sera were tested using an ELISA against Neospora tachyzoite antigen.


RESULTS
The prevalence of seropositive cattle was 2.5% (n=120), 3.6% (n=166) and 2.3% (n=213) at the plants surveyed, the overall prevalence being 2.8%. The serologically positive cattle came from 9 farms, 3 of which had more than 1 positive animal. The highest prevalence recorded amongst animals from 1 farm was 4/13 (31%), in a group of young steers.


CONCLUSIONS
Neosporosis appears to be present at a lower level in the New Zealand beef cattle population than in the New Zealand dairy cattle population. Nevertheless, from the high seroprevalence evident amongst young cattle on 1 farm, we suggest that Neospora may be a cause of infertility in beef cattle in this country.
Tennent-Brown
B S
BS
Institute of Veterinary Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Pomroy
W E
WE
Reichel
M P
MP
Gray
P L
PL
Marshall
T S
TS
Moffat
P A
PA
Rogers
M
M
Driscoll
V A
VA
Reeve
O F
OF
Ridler
A L
AL
Ritaven
S
S