title: Seroprevalence of Neospora caninum in dairy buffaloes in Lahore District, Pakistan.
abstract: Seroprevalence of Neospora caninum in dairy buffaloes ( Bubalus bubalis ) was assessed in the Lahore District of Punjab Province, Pakistan. The study revealed an overall prevalence of 54.7% for N. caninum antibodies determined through a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay performed on randomly collected serum samples. The highest prevalence was observed in buffaloes >3-5 yr of age (64.1%), followed by 57.9% for 5 to 6 yr olds, and 55.8% in 1-yr-old neonates, with high probability of infection under intensive dairy farming conditions. The pattern of prevalence was closely associated with the season as reflected by the highest prevalence (70.5%) in summer (May-August) and lowest (39.6%) in winter (November-January). Aborting buffaloes illustrated significantly higher (78.9%) exposure compared with non-aborting dams (59.8%). Prevalence in animals with canine contact was significantly higher (60.3%) than without contact (48.1%). This is the first reported prevalence of N. caninum in Pakistan.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nasir
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ashraf
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yaqub
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Javeed
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Avais
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Akhtar
mesh_terms: D000034:Abortion, Veterinary / Q000469:parasitology; D017677:Age Distribution; D000818:Animals; D000833:Animals, Suckling; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D002020:Buffaloes / Q000469:parasitology*; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D018688:Neospora / Q000276:immunology*; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012621:Seasons; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan