title: Occurrence of antibodies against Neospora caninum in water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) on four ranches in Corrientes province, Argentina.
abstract: The aim of the present work was to describe the occurrence of antibodies to Neospora caninum in water buffaloes on four ranches located in Corrientes province in the northeast of Argentina. Antibodies against N. caninum were determined in sera of 449 water buffaloes by using an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). A Bayesian logistic regression mixed model was used to quantify the strength of association between positive serological results to N. caninum and gender, age and category (calf, steer, heifer, cow) as risk factors. Antibody titers were found in 287 (64%) buffaloes. All ranches had seropositive animals. Age was more strongly associated with positive results to N. caninum (OR: 1.4; CI 95%: 0.86-2.22) than gender (OR: 1.02, CI 95%: 0.40-2.59) and category (OR: 0.88, CI 95%: 0.57-0.88). Results suggest a high exposure of water buffaloes to N. caninum by postnatal transmission in these four ranches located in Corrientes province, Argentina. Further studies are needed to quantify the consequences of Neospora-infections in the water buffalo industry.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), 7620 Balcarce, Argentina. ccampero@balcarce.inta.gov.ar
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Campero
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Crudeli
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Benitez
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Draghi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cano
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Konrad
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Odeón
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D002020:Buffaloes / Q000469:parasitology*; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D018688:Neospora / Q000276:immunology*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan