title: Seroprevalence and risk factors for Neospora caninum in sheep in the state Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with infection due to Neospora caninum in serum samples from 488 sheep originating from 63 farms in 63 municipalities distributed across eight of the twelve mesoregions of the state Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. For detection of N. caninum the sheep serum samples were subjected to the indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT ≥ 50). To identify the risk factors associated with infection due to N. caninum a questionnaire was filled out for each herd by interviewing, the individual responsible for the herd, demanding information on the general characteristics of the property. Sixty-four sheep sera (13.1%; 95% CI=10.3-16.4) presented IgG-specific anti-N. caninum antibodies with the following titers: 50 (49; 76.6%), 100 (7; 10.9%), 200 (4; 6.2%), 400 (3; 4.7%) and 800 (1; 1.6%). The prevalence of infected sheep per mesoregion ranged from 0 to 28.1%. Out of the 63 farms sampled, 31 (49.2%; 95% CI=36.4-62.1) presented at least one seropositive sheep. No significant association was found between the presence of anti-N. caninum antibodies and the risk factors evaluated on the farms, except for the mesoregion variable (p=0.004; OR=0.429; CI95%=0.182-1.008). These results indicate that there is a need for additional research to define the epidemiological importance of this parasite as a cause of reproductive problems in sheep herds in Minas Gerais.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Lavras, UFLA, Campus da UFLA, Caixa Postal 3037, CEP 37200-000 Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gislaine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: da Silva Andrade
authors.forename: Fábio Raphael Pascoti
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Bruhn
authors.forename: Christiane Maria Barcellos Magalhães
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: Alessandro de Sá
authors.initials: Ade S
authors.lastname: Guimarães
authors.forename: Aurora Maria Guimarães
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gouveia
authors.forename: Antônio Marcos
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Guimarães
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D018688:Neospora; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*