title: Neospora caninum: evaluation of vertical transmission in slaughtered dairy cows (Bos taurus).
abstract: Neospora caninum is a worldwide parasite recognized as one of the main parasites responsible for abortion in cattle. The objective of this study was to evaluate vertical transmission of N. caninum in dairy cows (Bos taurus) that were slaughtered at an abattoir in the state of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil. Blood samples (with and without EDTA) from 60 pregnant dairy cows and blood and tissue samples (brain, lung, heart and liver) from their fetuses were collected and used for PCR and serological evaluation. Blood samples from 60 non-pregnant cows were collected and used to detect antibodies. Anti-N. caninum antibodies were detected by indirect ELISA. Antibodies against N. caninum were observed in 41.6% (25∕60) of the pregnant cows and in 43.3% (26∕60) of the non-pregnant cows. Antibodies against the parasite were detected in sera from three fetuses (5.5%). PCR analysis revealed that 3.3% (2∕60) of the cows and 6.6% (4∕60) of the fetuses evaluated were positive for specific N. caninum primers. These positive fetuses were between 4-6 months of age. Therefore, considering PCR and serological tests to be indicative of vertical transmission in fetuses, 11.6% (7∕60) of the fetuses were infected by N. caninum during gestation.
authors.forename: César Augusto Barbosa de
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Macedo
authors.forename: Madlaine Frigo Silveira Barbosa de
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Macedo
authors.forename: Sergio Tosi
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Cardim
authors.forename: Milaine Cristiane Dantas Custódio
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Paiva
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taroda
authors.forename: Luiz Daniel
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Barros
authors.forename: Ivo Alexandre Leme da
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Cunha
authors.forename: Dauton Luiz
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Zulpo
authors.forename: João Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Garcia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000635:transmission*; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000097:blood / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D003612:Dairying; D005260:Female; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000662:veterinary*; D018688:Neospora / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan