title: Seroprevalence of Neospora caninum antibodies and its consequences for reproductive parameters in dairy cows from Dakar-Senegal, West Africa.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of Neospora caninum antibodies and its effects on reproductive parameters in cows in intensive dairy herds in Dakar. Randomised blood samples were taken for serology from 196 cows in four herds with a history of sporadic abortion. All of the sera were assayed for antibodies against N. caninum, Candida guillermondii, Coxiella burnetii, and Chlamydophila sp. The associations between serostatus and reproductive parameters (abortion, number of inseminations to conception, and calving to conception interval) were assessed over a period of 5 years (2004-2008). The seroprevalence of N. caninum antibodies in dairy cattle was 17.9%. The local Gobra breed and crossbreeds had higher levels of N. caninum antibodies than exotic breeds (p < 0.05). For the most recent pregnancies, seropositive cows required more inseminations to establish conception than seronegative cows (p < 0.05). The results indicate that dairy cattle from Dakar are exposed to N. caninum. Neosporosis should, therefore, be systematically considered as a cause when the calving to conception interval is prolonged.
authors.affiliation: Inter-State School of Veterinary Sciences and Medicine of Dakar, P.O. Box 5077, Dakar, Senegal. akwar2003@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Alain Richi
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Kamga-Waladjo
authors.forename: Oubri Bassa
authors.initials: OB
authors.lastname: Gbati
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kone
authors.forename: Rock Allister
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Lapo
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chatagnon
authors.forename: Serge N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Bakou
authors.forename: Louis Joseph
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Pangui
authors.forename: Papa El Hassane
authors.initials: Pel H
authors.lastname: Diop
authors.forename: Justin Ayayi
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Akakpo
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tainturier
mesh_terms: D000034:Abortion, Veterinary / Q000209:etiology; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal / Q000097:blood; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D023501:Chlamydophila / Q000276:immunology; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D018688:Neospora / Q000276:immunology*; D012098:Reproduction; D012675:Senegal / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal