Neospora caninum: Serological follow-up in dairy cows during pregnancy.
We conducted a longitudinal study to follow-up the anti-Neospora caninum serologic status in 30 initially seropositive and 83 initially seronegative cows during their pregnancy. Study cows were blood-sampled every other month during pregnancy until parturition. Blood serum samples were screened for anti-N. caninum antibodies by ELISA. Cows that seroconverted were re-tested by immunoblot as a confirmation test. Among 30 seropositive cows, 28 cows remained seropositive during the whole pregnancy, whereas 2 cows transiently tested negative at least once during pregnancy. Among 83 seronegative cows, 82 cows remained seronegative and 1 cow tested positive three times during the sixth, eighth and last month of pregnancy. As only 2 out of 30 seropositive animals and 1 out of 83 animals changed their serologic status during pregnancy, the study results indicate that there is only a minor temporal instability of anti-N. caninum antibody reactivity in adult cattle.
Swiss Federal Veterinary Office, Schwarzenburgstrasse 155, CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland. Barbara.Haesler@bvet.admin.ch
Barbara
B
Häsler
Jorge A
JA
Hernandez
Martin
M
Reist
Heinz
H
Sager
Christine
C
Steiner-Moret
Daniela
D
Staubli
Katharina D C
KD
Stärk
Bruno
B
Gottstein
D000034:Abortion, Veterinary / Q000469:parasitology*; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018688:Neospora / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan