title: Prevalence of antibodies against Neospora caninum in dogs from urban areas in Central Poland.
abstract: Neospora caninum is a protozoan parasite which causes abortion in cattle as well as reproduction problems and neurological disorders in dogs. To assess the prevalence of the parasite in urban dogs in the Mazovian Voivodeship, Central Poland, serum samples from 257 dogs were analyzed for the presence of specific IgG antibodies. The examined dogs visited three private veterinary clinics located in Warsaw due to control tests, vaccinations, or other reasons not directly connected with neosporosis. Using ELISA and Western blot, antibodies against the parasite were detected in 56 out of 257 dogs, giving a prevalence of 21.7%. A greater prevalence was observed in female dogs than in males, 28% and 17.3%, respectively, and the differences were statistically significant (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in seroprevalence of Neospora infection within the age groups (p>0.05). This study indicates the presence of N. caninum in the Mazovian Voivodeship, in dogs which live in urban areas and exposure of these dogs to the parasite. The fact that seropositive dogs had no contact with cattle confirms the important role of dogs in the parasite's epidemiology.
authors.affiliation: Witold Stefański Institute of Parasitology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda Street 51/55, 00-818, Warszawa, Poland. kasiagoz@twarda.pan.pl
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Goździk
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wrzesień
authors.forename: Adrianna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wielgosz-Ostolska
authors.forename: Justyna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bień
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kozak-Ljunggren
authors.forename: Władysław
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cabaj
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D004285:Dogs; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D018688:Neospora / Q000276:immunology*; D010274:Parasitology / Q000379:methods; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G