title: Neospora caninum in beef herds in New South Wales, Australia. 1: seroprevalence study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the seroprevalence of Neospora caninum antibodies in beef breeding herds across New South Wales (NSW) and to determine if there are any differences associated with geographic location and other herd-level factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey of beef breeding cows (n = 3298) from 63 properties (approximately 55 cows per herd) sampled randomly from six regions in NSW using a multistage survey design. Samples were tested by ELISA for N. caninum. Seroprevalence was determined at animal and herd levels, using an analysis approach to account for stratification, sample weighting and within-herd clustering.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Animal-level seroprevalence ranged from 1.8% to 11.3% across regions and the overall animal seroprevalence for NSW was 5.9%. The mean within-herd seroprevalence was 5.2%. The herd seroprevalence ranged from 50% to 92%, with an overall point estimate for NSW of 63.8% (using ≥ 1 animal positive = herd positive). The within-herd seroprevalence ranged from 1.6% to 32.7% Prevalence and associated confidence limits were adjusted for the design of the survey.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, about two-thirds of all herds in NSW showed evidence of infection, but the seroprevalence of N. caninum in individual beef cattle in NSW was low to moderate (1.8-11.3%). Significant differences occurred between regions. The risk for herds being positive for N. caninum was associated with geographic factors, particularly in the Mid-North Coast Region.
authors.affiliation: New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Orange, New South Wales 2800, Australia.
authors.forename: B J
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4416-3579
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Moloney
authors.affiliation: New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, Camden, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Kirkland
authors.affiliation: EpiCentre, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heuer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000469:parasitology; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D018688:Neospora; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
keywords: 
  Neospora caninum
  ; Australia; beef cattle; seroprevalence