title: Seroprevalence of Neospora caninum infection in farmed sika deer (Cervus nippon) in China.
abstract: Neospora caninum is a worldwide protozoan that can induce neuromuscular disease in dogs and reproductive failure in domestic and wild ruminants. The objective of the present investigation was to determine the seroprevalence of N. caninum infection in farmed sika deer in China as little is known of this host-parasite relationship. A total of 1800 serum samples were collected during 2013 and 2014 from farmed sika deer in the major production areas of Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces.Assay by ELISA for N. caninum antibodies indicated a seroprevalence of 13.6% in 2013 and 15.8% in 2014, varying in different regions from 9.5% to 27.5%. Statistical analysis revealed that prevalence in animals aged >4 years (20.4%) was significantly higher than in the age ranges <2 years (9.6%) and 2-4 years (11.4%) (P<0.01). Moreover, sika deer in herds with a history of miscarriage (41.9%) had a significantly higher seroprevalence than in those without (12.6%) (P<0.01). The present survey confirms that N. caninum does occur in farmed sika deer in China and provides base-line data for the design and evaluation of measures for its control and prevention in this host.
authors.affiliation: Jilin Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, ChangChun, Jilin Province 130000, PR China.
authors.forename: Qing-Feng
authors.initials: QF
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin Province 130118, PR China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Huizhou Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Huizhou, Guangdong Province 516006, PR China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Beijing Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Beijing 100026, PR China.
authors.forename: Ya-Duo
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.affiliation: Jilin Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, ChangChun, Jilin Province 130000, PR China.
authors.forename: Wei-Lin
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Jilin Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, ChangChun, Jilin Province 130000, PR China. Electronic address: wang-weili@163.com.
authors.forename: Wei-Li
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin Province 130118, PR China. Electronic address: messicw@163.com.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cong
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003670:Deer / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D018688:Neospora / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan
keywords: China; Farmed sika deer; Neospora caninum; Seroprevalence