Detection of Neospora sp. antibodies in cart horses from urban areas of Curitiba, Southern Brazil

Abstract

Neospora caninum is a protozoan parasite which affects dogs as definitive hosts and several mammalian species as intermediate hosts mainly causing abortions and central nervous system disorders. The reemerging population of cart horses for carrying recycling material in urban areas of major cities in Brazil may have an impact on disease spreading, and these animals may be used as sentinels for environmental surveillance. Thus, the present study investigated the frequency of Neospora sp. antibodies in cart horses from Curitiba and surrounding areas, Paraná State, Southern Brazil. IgG antibodies against Neospora sp. were detected using indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT), and titers equal to or higher than 1:50 were considered reactive. Of all samples, 14/97 (14.4%) were positive: 2/29 (6.9%) were younger than 5; 5/26 (19.2%) between 6 and 9; and 6/31 (19.4%) older than 10 years of age. One of the 11 animals with unknown age was positive (9.1%). Cart horses are likely to be more exposed to dog feces and to Neospora sp. oocyst contamination in urban settings and a lower frequency of disease in dogs may have a negative impact on horse infection risk in these areas.

Occurrence of anti-Neospora caninum and anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in horses in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso, Brazil

“…In Paraná, a similar prevalence was found in carter horses (14.4%; IFAT, title 50) (VILLALOBOS et al, 2012). Reasons for the different seroprevalence reported in horses may be due different management conditions and/ or geographic locations.…”

“…Antibodies to N. caninum were related in horses from some states in Brazil, and the seroprevalence has been reported from 2.5 to 47% (VILLALOBOS et al, 2012;LOCATELLI-DITTRICH et al, 2006). Two studies carried out in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul, and Mato Grosso, detected no antibodies to N. caninum in horses (HOANE et al, 2006;DUBEY et al, 1999).…”

“…Additionally, N. caninum is one of the most cause of abortion in cattle worldwide SCHARES, 2011). Abortion and neonatal diseases are associated with N.caninum infection in horses (VILLALOBOS et al, 2012;KLIGLER et al, 2007) whereas N. hughesi infection is associated with neurological diseases, principally equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) (FINNO et al, 2007;KLIGLER et al, 2007). Domestic dogs and coyotes are known to be the definitive hosts of N. caninum, and the definitive host for N. hughesi has not yet been identified (DUBEY; SCHARES 2011).…”

Verificação da transmissão vertical de Neospora spp. em equinos

“…nas populações pesquisadas, 14,4% e menos de 5%, respectivamente. Estes estudos tiveram como alvo animais de tração urbanos ou oriundos de áreas rurais, mas ainda assim, indicam que há, nessas condições, contato de equinos com este gênero de protozoários (Villalobos et al 2012, Moura et al 2013.…”

Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis: An Updated Consensus Statement with a Focus on Parasite Biology, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention

“…Serum antibodies against N. hughesi have been reported in more than 10% of horses in some geographic regions,7, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58 whereas other studies found antibodies against N. hughesi in much lower proportions of horses (ie, <3%) 52, 53, 59, 60, 61, 62. Some of the variation may be because of geographic differences, but studies that used Western blot to confirm serologic results have suggested that seroprevalence to N. hughesi is commonly overestimated 57, 59, 62…”