Neospora caninum serostatus in dairy cattle of the Northern plains of Antioquia, Colombia

Estudio serológico de Neospora caninum en ganado de leche del altiplano Norte de Antioquia, Colombia

ABSTRACT

Objectives. To determine Neospora caninum seroprevalence in nonvaccinated dairy cattle from the Northern plains of Antioquia. Materials and methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of neosporosis in a major dairy area of Colombia. Blood samples were collected from 1003 dairy cattle in 29 herds located in the municipality of San Pedro de los Milagros, in Antioquia. N. caninum antibody levels were measured by an enzymatic immunoassay (ELISA) and the results classified as positive or negative. Results. Seropositive cattle were observed in all herds, with a prevalence ranging from 7 to 97% and a mean (±S.E) of 37.1% (±4.2). The distribution of seropositive animals by age groups of <1, 1-2, 2-3 and ≥3 years old was 25.5, 30.3, 46.1 and 39.1%, respectively. Conclusions. There is a high seroprevalence of N. caninum in the main dairy cattle area of Antioquia. The large variation among herds suggests the presence of mayor risk factors whose identification would be essential to establish control programs. Considering that any seropositive cow has a greater risk to abort than uninfected mates, future studies should address the epidemiology of abortions that can be attributed to neosporosis and the type of control strategies that could be implemented.

1. Dijkstra T, Barkema HW, Eysker M, Wouda W. Evidence of post-natal transmission of Neospora caninum in Dutch dairy herds. Int J Parasitol 2001; 31(2):209-215. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0020-7519(00)00160-0
3. Hernandez J, Risco C, Donovan A. Risk of abortion associate with Neospora caninum during different lactations and evidence of congenital transmission in dairy cows. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2002; 221(12):1742-1746. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2002.221.1741
5. González-Warleta M, Castro-Hermida JA, Carro-Corral C, Mezo M. Anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in milk in relation to production losses in dairy cattle. Prev Vet Med 2011; 101(1-2):58-64.
6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2011.04.019
8. Mazuz ML, Fish L, Reznikov D, Wolkomirsky R, Leibovitz B, Savitzky I, Golenser J, Shkap V. Neosporosis in naturally infected pregnant dairy cattle. Vet Parasitol 2014; 205(1-2):85-91.
9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2014.06.009
11. Innes EA, Wright S, Bartley P, Maley S, Macaldowie C, Esteban-Redondo I, Buxton D. The host-parasite relationship in bovine neosporosis. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2005; 108(1-2):29-36.
12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetimm.2005.07.004
14. Jenkins MC, Wouda W, Dubey JP. Serological response over time to recombinant Neospora caninum antigens in cattle after a neosporosis-induced abortion. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol 1997; 4(3):270-274.
16. Haddad JP, Dohoo IR, VanLeewen JA. A review of Neospora caninum in dairy and beef cattle a Canadian perspective. Can Vet J 2005; 46(3):230-243.
18. Cede-o D, Benavides B. Seroprevalence and risk factors associated to Neospora caninum in dairy cattle herds in the municipality of Pasto, Colombia. Rev MVZ Córdoba; 18(1):3311-3316.
20. Oviedo T, Betancur C, Mestra A, Gonzalez M, Reza L, Calonge K. Serological study about neosporosis in cattle with reproductive disorders in Monteria, Cordoba, Colombia. Revista MVZ Córdoba 2007; 12:929-933.
22. Lopez G, Restrepo B, Restrepo M, Lotero M, Murillo V, Chica A, et al. Estudio para evidenciar la presencia de Neospora caninum en bovinos de la hacienda San Pedro en el municipio de Fredonia. Revista CES – Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia 2007; 2(1):7-20.
24. Dubey JP, Schares G, Ortega-Mora LM. Epidemiology and control of neosporosis and Neospora caninum. Clin Microbiol Rev 2007; 20(2):323-367. https://doi.org/10.1128/CMR.00031-06
26. Dijkstra TH, Barkema HW, Eysker M, Beiboer ML, Wouda W. Evaluation of a single serological screening of dairy herds for Neospora caninum antibodies. Vet Parasitol 2003; 110(3-4):161-169. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-4017(02)00323-0
28. Pfeiffer DU, Williamson NB, Reichel MP, Wichtel JJ, Teague WR. A longitudinal study of Neospora caninum infection on a dairy farm in New Zealand. Prev Vet Med 2002; 54(1):11-24.
29. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-5877(02)00011-9
31. Quintanilla-Gozalo A, Pereira-Bueno J, Seijas-Carballedo A, Costas E, Ortega-Mora LM. Observational studies in Neospora caninum infected dairy cattle: relationship infection-abortion and gestational antibody fluctuations. Int J Parasitol 2000; 30:900-906.
33. Romero JJ, Perez E, Dolz G, Frankena K. Factors associated with Neospora caninum serostatus in cattle of 20 specialized Costa Rican dairy herds. Prev Vet Med 2002; 53(4):263-273. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-5877(01)00290-2