Neospora caninum can cause reproductive problems and economic losses in sheep flock. In order to evaluate N. canium seroprevalence and to identify risk factors, blood samples were collected from 1,308 ewes at 92 properties in 30 municipalities of Santa Catarina Plateau, southern Brazil. The antibodies against N. caninum were detected by Indirect Immunofluorescence Antibody Test (IFAT, ≥1:50) and the seropositive were titrated in serial twofold up to a maximum dilution. Data concerning animal management and information about reproductive problems were obtained from questionnaires. The results were tabulated and analyzed using the Fisher's exact and Chi-Square tests (P<0.05). Among the 1,308 animals evaluated, 92 (7%) were seropositive to N. caninum. The titers observed varied from 1:50 to 1:3200. In 39 (42.4%) properties there was at least one infected animal. Breed (P=0.0249) and contact with cattle (P=0.0491) showed correlation with the prevalence of N. caninum. No association was found between N. caninum serology and reproductive disorders. Key words: Neospora caninum, ewes, seroprevalence, risk factors ResumoA infecção por Neospora caninum em ovelhas pode resultar em problemas reprodutivos. Para avaliar a prevalência da infecção por N. caninum, identificar fatores de risco e a existência de correlação entre neosporose ovina e desordens reprodutivas, sangue de 1308 ovelhas em idade reprodutiva foram colhidos em 92 propriedades de 30 municípios do Planalto Catarinense. A detecção de anticorpos contra N. caninum foi realizada por meio da Reação de Imunofluorescência Indireta (RIFI, ≥1:50) e as amostras positivas foram analisadas em diluições seriadas de base dois até a titulação máxima reativa. Dados referentes ao manejo dos animais e informações acerca de problemas de ordem reprodutiva foram obtidos por meio da aplicação de questionário. Os resultados foram tabulados e analisados estatisticamente por meio dos testes exato de Fisher e de qui-quadrado (P<0,05). Dos 1308 animais avaliados, 92 (7%) foram sororreagentes a N. caninum. Os títulos observados variaram de 1:50 a 1:3200. Em 39 (42,4%) propriedades foram identificados ao menos um animal positivo. Raça (P=0,0249) e contato com bovinos (P=0,0491) apresentaram correlação com a prevalência para N. caninum. Não foi verificada associação entre sorologia para N. caninum e desordens reprodutivas. Palavras-chave: Neospora caninum, ovelhas, soroprevalência, fatores de risco

The aims of this study were to determine occurrences of Neospora spp. IgG antibodies in horses from two geographical regions of the state of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil, and identify risk factors for infection. Analyses were performed on 615 samples using the immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT ≥ 1:50). Out of the 615 samples, 25 (4.1%) were positive for Neospora spp. The titers for Neospora spp. were distributed as follows: 1:50 (13), 1:100 (eight), 1:200 (three) and 1:400 (one). Out of the 311 samples taken in the mountain region, eight were positive (2.6%). Among the samples from the coastal region (304), 17 had Neospora spp. antibodies, thus indicating occurrence of 5.6%. Although no statistically significant difference was observed (P = 0.06704), the prevalence among animals of the coast was 2.2 times higher than that of the mountain region. Contact with dogs and/or cattle (P = 0.007596) were identified as risk factor for Neospora spp. infection.

Toxoplasmosis in sheep is a disease of great importance in veterinary medicine, which causes economic losses in livestock and has a great impact on human health, since consumption of infected meat facilitates transmission of zoonotic infections. Blood samples from sheep (n = 360) were collected from 13 farm properties in the municipality of Lages, Santa Catarina, to estimate the prevalence of toxoplasmosis and identify risk factors associated with Toxoplasma gondii infection. T. gondii, antibodies were investigated by means of the indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Animals infected with T. gondii were found on 100% of the farms. IFA detected 56.9% (205/360) and ELISA 42.5% of the infected sheep. Breed was the only risk factor associated with the presence of T. gondii antibodies. ELISA showed sensitivity of 61%, specificity of 82% and kappa of 0.41, which was considered moderate. This allows use of ELISA as an alternative technique for diagnosing T. gondii in sheep.

The distribution of Neospora caninum, an important agent of reproductive disorders in cattle, has been frequently reported in dairy cattle in Brazil and worldwide. Records of infection are less frequent in beef cattle. To determine the seroprevalence of bovine neosporosis, 507 beef cattle blood samples were collected from

The aim of this study was to compare Larval Immersion Test in syringes, originally proposed by Souza et al. (2008), with two modified bioassays proposed by Silva et al. (2011) andSindhu et al. (2012). Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus larvae were exposed to nine dilutions of commercial acaricide. After 24 hours, the number of dead larvae was counted. The LC 50 for the three methods were 0.186%, 0.125% and 0.153%, respectively. Mortality of larvae exposed to chemical dilutions on Silva et al. (2011) were significantly higher than other methods at lower concentrations, probably in consequence of longer exposure time of larvae to solutions. However, modifications proposed by Sindhu et al.