title: Serological survey of Neospora caninum infection in cattle herds from Western Romania.
abstract: Serum samples from 376 randomly selected adult cattle, from 25 farms located in 3 counties (Arad, Bihor, and Timiş) from western Romania, were sampled for Neospora caninum antibodies using a commercial ELISA-kit. Seroprevalence values and risk factors for neosporosis (cow age, breed, herd size, farming system, previous abortion, and number of farm dogs) were examined using a generalized linear mixed model with a binomial distribution. Overall, the seroprevalence of N. caninum was 27.7% (104/376) with a prevalence of 27.9% (24/86) in Arad, 26.9% (25/93) in Bihor, and 27.9% (55/197) in Timiş. Of 25 cattle herds, 23 were seropositive with a prevalence ranging from 10.0 to 52.2%. No correlation was found between N. caninum seropositivity and age, breed, herd size, breeding system, and previous abortion. The number of farm dogs was the only factor (P(Wald)  =  0.03) positively associated with seroprevalence in cows and can be considered the risk factor in the acquiring of infection. The present work is the first regarding serological evidence of N. caninum infection in cattle from western Romania.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Banat University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Timişoara, Calea Aradului nr. 119, 300645 Timişoara, Romania. kalman_imre27@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Kálmán
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Imre
authors.forename: Sorin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morariu
authors.forename: Marius S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ilie
authors.forename: Mirela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Imre
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Genchi
authors.forename: Gheorghe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dărăbuş
mesh_terms: D000034:Abortion, Veterinary / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D018688:Neospora / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan