Seroepidemiology of Neospora caninum among goats (Capra hircus) in the state of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil

Abstract

Although goat dairy farms in Brazil may have a higher risk of infection by Neospora caninum than beef farms, risk factor evaluation on a representative population remains to be fully established in Brazil. Accordingly, this study aimed to establish the occurrence of anti-N. caninum antibodies and factors associated with exposure in 406 blood samples from five dairy and three beef goat farms in the state of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil. Anti-N. caninum antibodies were detected by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), with samples considered positive when reacting with dilution ≥ 1:50. A total of 106/406 goats (26.11%; 95% CI: 21.96-30.72%) were seroreactive comprising 2/61 (3.28%), 10/45 (22.22%), 13/50 (26.00%), 17/51 (33.33%) to 29/46 (63.04%) in dairy farms, and from 3/54 (5.56%), 12/50 (24.00%) to 20/49 (40.82%) on the beef farms. No significant associations were found in relation to age, gender, dairy versus beef farms, occurrence of abortions or mummified fetuses, and seroreactivity to N. caninum (P>0.05). In conclusion, goat farms in the state of Paraíba showed the highest occurrence of anti-N. caninum antibodies to date in Brazil.

Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum infections and factors associated in goats in the Parana state, Southern Brazil

“…In addition, it was not a significant association between reproductive impairment and toxoplasmosis and/or neosporosis. Similar results are observed with N. caninum prevalence in goats of Paraíba state (Braz et al, 2018); however, it was contrary with other studies about T. gondii.…”

“…Another parasite that can cause reproductive problems is Neospora caninum, first described in 2004 by Figliuolo et al (2004) that reported the prevalence of 6.4% in goat herds in the state of São Paulo. Since then, several studies have been conducted in other states such Paraíba (3.3%; Faria et al, 2007;and 26.11%;Braz et al, 2018), Rio Grande do Norte (1.05%; Lima et al, 2008), and Pernambuco (64,2%; Tembue et al, 2011;and 2.04%;Arraes-Santos et al, 2016). Although the various serologic studies in Brazilian goats' herds, the reproductive impairment caused by N. caninum is still scarce evaluated (Braz et al, 2018).…”

Serological and biochemical study for Neospora caninum in goats/Mosul/Iraq

“…The study also agreed with the findings of the researcher (Braz et al, 2018) on goat herds from different farms in Brazil, but it differed with (Ghattof and Faraj et al, 2015), the variation in the positive percentages of infected animals is due to the weather and the method of breeding in the fields, taking into account the number of animals in one herd, the density and the size of the sample taken for examination, taking into account the method used in diagnosing the disease. Biochemical tests in goats showed a significant increase in the value of aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT), the rise of these enzymes is due to infection with the parasite, as the canine neosporosis parasite is like other parasites, which causes a clear change in liver enzymes as a result of damage to the liver cells .and abnormality of the cell unite due to pathological lesion made by it .Thus, the study agreed with the researcher (Bottaria et al, 2014).…”

Apicomplexans in Goat: Prevalence of Neospora caninum, Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium spp., Eimeria spp. and Risk Factors in Farms from Ecuador

“…The seroprevalence value of N. caninum found in this work (12.11%) was higher than those reported in Italy (5.7%), China (8.55%) or in Romania (2.3%) [ 33 , 34 , 35 ]. In Brazil, 26.11% of seroprevalence was described [ 36 ]. It is remarkable that two farms in the present study showed more than 50% seropositivity to N. caninum.…”