title: Prevalence and distribution of Neospora caninum in water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and cattle in the Northern Territory of Australia.
abstract: The seroprevalence of Neospora caninum infection in water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and domestic cattle in the Northern Territory (NT) of Australia has never been determined. A total of 480 serum samples from water buffalo and 192 serum samples from cattle, collected by the NT Government from 1993 through to 2001, at 18 different survey sites throughout the Northern Territory were tested by commercial ELISA for anti-N. caninum antibodies. The water buffalo samples demonstrated a seroprevalence of 88.3% (95% CI ± 2.9%), while 31.8% (±6.1%) of the cattle sera tested positive for N. caninum antibodies. Individual buffalo from the same herd, sampled over years, showed considerable fluctuations in S/P ratios. Overall, seropositivity was consistent across buffalo herds, and showed a slight decline over the years. The study presents evidence for the first time that N. caninum infection in water buffalo in the Northern Territory is a highly endemic and that infection rates are higher than those for cattle. This is important for an understanding of any potential sylvatic life cycle of N. caninum in Northern Australia. This survey also tests cattle from that territory for the first time for evidence of N. caninum infection and makes an important contribution to the understanding of disease management issues for the beef industry in the region.
authors.affiliation: School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy Campus, Roseworthy, South Australia 5371, Australia.
authors.forename: Claudia E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Neverauskas
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Jhang, Subcampus University of Veterinary &Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Amar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nasir
authors.affiliation: School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy Campus, Roseworthy, South Australia 5371, Australia. Electronic address: mreichel@cityu.edu.hk.
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Reichel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002020:Buffaloes; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D018688:Neospora; D015876:Northern Territory / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence
keywords: Australia; Cattle; ELISA; Neospora caninum; Northern Territory; Prevalence; Water buffalo