title: Relation between Neospora caninum and abortion in dairy cows: Risk factors and pathogenesis of disease.
abstract: Neosporosis is a parasitic disease cause by Neospora caninum, a parasite of great importance in livestock. This study aimed to evaluate the presence of antibody against N. caninum in dairy cattle with history of abortion, as well as to identify associated risk factors for neosporosis. Animals suspected of neosporosis (n = 130) after clinical examination were randomly selected. Sera samples from 29 farms were submitted to indirect immunofluorescence technique (IFA) in order to detect antibodies against N. caninum, and animals were considered positive if ≥ IFA 1:200. An epidemiological questionnaire was used to verify probable risk factors for neosporosis and their cause-effect relation. Serological results showed that 43.8% of the animals were seropositives for N. caninum. The univariate statistical analysis found a significant relation between neoporosis and age. The number of pregnancies and the number of years that the farms had been producing milk were found as associated risk factors for the disease either by univariate or by multivariate analyses. The cause-effect model found a possible relation between reproductive problems and positive serology for neosporosis (P = 0.06). Therefore, it was concluded that approximately 44% of dairy cows with history of abortion were seropositives for N. caninum and that age and the number of years that the farms had been producing milk are risk factors for parasite infection in dairy cattle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vanderlei
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Klauck
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Epidemiology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pazinato
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Willian M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Radavelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daiane S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Veterinarian, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jean Carlo
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Berwaguer
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Braunig
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Vogel
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Brazil. Electronic address: dasilva.aleksandro@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Aleksandro S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Da Silva
mesh_terms: D000034:Abortion, Veterinary / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D018688:Neospora; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G
keywords: Cattle; Epidemiology; Neosporosis; Reproduction; Risk factors