title: PCR detection of Neospora caninum in water buffalo foetal tissues.
abstract: The seroprevalence of Neospora caninum was surveyed by an ELISA kit on two water buffalo herds of Southern Italy. Seropositive samples were detected in 47% and 59% of individuals, respectively, thus indicating high level of exposure to the parasite even if the possibility of vertical transmission cannot be excluded. Tissue samples collected from three aborted fetuses from the same herds were investigated for N. caninum presence by PCR assays targeting the 18S and the Nc5 DNA sequences, respectively. Both methods have shown the presence of N. caninum DNA in heart and brain. Sequencing of the Nc5 genomic DNA confirmed the presence of N. caninum in the samples; phylogenetic analysis of the obtained sequences showed high homology among the Neospora recovered from different samples. The present study suggests an important role of N. caninum as a possible abortive agent for water buffaloes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Health, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Via Salute, 2, 80055, Portici, NA, Italy, clementina.auriemma@cert.izsmportici.it.
authors.forename: Clementina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Auriemma
authors.forename: Maria Gabriella
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Lucibelli
authors.forename: Giorgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Borriello
authors.forename: Esterina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Carlo
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martucciello
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schiavo
authors.forename: Amalia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bove
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Corrado
authors.forename: Santa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Girardi
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Amoroso
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ďegli Uberti
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Galiero
mesh_terms: D000034:Abortion, Veterinary / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D000818:Animals; D002020:Buffaloes; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000469:parasitology*; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D018688:Neospora / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence