title: Antibodies to Neospora caninum in sheep from slaughterhouses in the state of São Paulo, Brazil.
abstract: Neosporosis is an emergent disease responsible for considerable economic impact due to reproductive losses. Its zoonotic potential remains unknown. This study involved a survey of antibodies to Neospora caninum in slaughtered sheep and their association with epidemiological variables. Serum samples from 596 sheep from the states of São Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, were collected in two slaughterhouses located in São Paulo and evaluated by indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT), using cut-off titers of 25. Among these samples, 353/596 (59.23%; 95%CI 55.23-63.10) were positive and 263/353 (74.50%; 95%CI 69.71-78.77%) were from Rio Grande do Sul. Statistical associations were determined in the univariate analysis between the serological results and sex, breed and municipality of origin. Sheep that came from extensive breeding system showed higher chance (OR=2.09) of presenting antibodies to N. caninum in relation to those from semi-intensive system. Higher chance was also observed for the different studied breeds, except Bergamácia, in relation to Hampshire Down. The results revealed the presence of infection by N. caninum in sheep from slaughterhouses.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Saúde Coletiva, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Laís Moraes
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Paiz
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, USA.
authors.forename: Rodrigo Costa
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Higiene Veterinária e Saúde Pública, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Benedito Donizete
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Menozzi
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Higiene Veterinária e Saúde Pública, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Helio
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Langoni
mesh_terms: D000003:Abattoirs; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D001938:Brazil; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000097:blood / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D018688:Neospora / Q000276:immunology*; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan