title: Seroprevalence of Neospora spp. among asymptomatic horses, aborted mares and horses demonstrating neurological signs in Israel.
abstract: Sera from 800 asymptomatic horses were examined for the presence of antibodies to Neospora caninum by immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT). The presence of antibodies to N. caninum was also tested in sera from 52 mares that had aborted and 40 horses exhibiting neurological signs. A total of 95 (11.9%) of the 800 sera had antibodies for Neospora. Significantly higher seropositivity was obtained from horses that had neurological signs (21.2%) and from aborted mares (37.5%). There was significant linear-by-linear association between age and seropositivity. This is the first serologic survey for Neospora spp. antibodies performed on horses from the Middle East and the first to report significant difference in seropositivity between asymptomatic horses and horses exhibiting neurological signs.
authors.affiliation: Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jeruslem, P.O. Box 12, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
authors.forename: Eitan B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Kligler
authors.forename: Varda
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Shkap
authors.forename: Gad
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Baneth
authors.forename: Zvia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mildenberg
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Steinman
mesh_terms: D000034:Abortion, Veterinary / Q000469:parasitology*; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006736:Horses; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D018688:Neospora / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan