title: Diagnostic survey of bovine abortion with special reference to Neospora caninum infection: importance, repeated abortion and concurrent infection in aborted fetuses in Southern Brazil.
abstract: The protozoa Neospora caninum is an important cause of bovine abortion world-wide. The objective of this survey was to determine the distribution pattern of infectious abortion in Southern Brazil with special reference to N. caninum infection. A total of 161 bovine aborted fetuses from 149 farms were analysed during a 1.5 year period. The cause of abortion was identified in 51.5% of cases. Overall, 23% (37/161) of the fetuses were considered to be infected with N. caninum. Bacterial infection accounted for 17.4% (28/161) of cases, fungal infection for 3.1% (5/161) of cases and viral aetiology for 1.8% (3/161). Six fetuses had concurrent infection with N. caninum and Leptospira spp. Data from 111 fetuses and the respective aborted cows were analysed to investigate the association between previous abortion and current N. caninum infection. The prevalence of N. caninum-infected fetuses from cows with and without a history of previous abortion was 44% (11/25) and 24.4% (21/86), respectively. Cows aborting a N. caninum-infected fetuses were 2.4 times more likely to have aborted previously than cows aborting for other reasons (95% CI of odds ratio=0.9-6.8, P=0.06).
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves 9090, CEP 91540-000, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luis G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Corbellini
authors.forename: Caroline A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Pescador
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Frantz
authors.forename: Elsio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wunder
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Steffen
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Driemeier
mesh_terms: D000034:Abortion, Veterinary / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D007919:Leptospira / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D018688:Neospora / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011247:Pregnancy