All about neosporosis in Brazil

Abstract

Neospora caninum is protozoan parasite with domestic and wild dogs, coyotes and grey wolves as the definitive hosts and many warm-blooded animals as intermediate hosts. It was cultivated and named in 1988. Neosporosis is a major disease of cattle and has no public health significance. Since 1990's N. caninum has emerged as a major cause of abortion in cattle worldwide, including in Brazil. N. caninum also causes clinical infections in several other animal species. Considerable progress has been made in understanding the biology of N. caninum and there are more than 200 papers on this subject from Brazil. However, most of the reports on neosporosis from Brazil are serological surveys. Overall, little is known of clinical neosporosis in Brazil, particularly cattle. The few reports pertain to sporadic cases of abortion with no information on epidemics or storms of abortion. The objective of the present review is to summarize all reports from Brazil and suggest topic for further research, including prevalence of N. caninum oocysts in soil or in canine feces, and determining if there are additional definitive hosts, other than the domestic dog. There is need for a national survey in cattle using defined parameters. Future researches should focus on molecular characterization of N. caninum strains, possibility of vaccine production and relationship between wildlife and livestock epidemiology.Keywords: Neospora caninum, neosporosis, domestic animals, wild animals, Brazil. ResumoNeospora caninum é um protozoário parasita que possui os canídeos domésticos e selvagens, coiotes e lobos cinzentos como hospedeiros definitivos e vários animais de sangue quente como hospedeiros intermediários. Foi cultivado e nomeado em 1988. A neosporose é uma das principais doenças em bovinos e não tem significância em saúde pública. Desde 1990, N. caninum tem emergido como uma das principais causas de aborto em bovinos em todo o mundo, inclusive no Brasil. N. caninum também causa infecções clínicas em várias outras espécies animais. Consideráveis avanços foram feitos na compreensão da biologia desse parasita e há mais de 200 trabalhos sobre o assunto no Brasil. No entanto, a maioria dos relatos de neosporose do Brasil são relacionados a sorologia. Em geral, pouco se sabe sobre a neosporose clínica no Brasil, particularmente em bovinos. Os poucos relatos referem-se a casos esporádicos de aborto sem informações sobre epidemias ou surtos de aborto. O objetivo da presente revisão é resumir todos os relatos sobre N. caninum no Brasil e sugerir tópicos para pesquisas futuras, incluindo a prevalência de oocistos de N. caninum no solo ou em fezes caninas e determinar se há hospedeiros definitivos adicionais, exceto o cão doméstico no país. Uma pesquisa nacional em bovinos usando parâmetros definidos seria de grande importância. Pesquisas futuras deveriam ser focadas na caracterização de cepas de N. caninum, possibilidade de produção de vacinas e a relação epidemiológica entre a vida selvagem e o gado.Palavras-chave: Neospora caninum, neospo...

Coxiella burnetii associated with BVDV (Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus), BoHV (Bovine Herpesvirus), Leptospira spp., Neospora caninum, Toxoplasma gondii and Trypanosoma vivax in reproductive disorders in cattle

“…Our data corroborate those found previously in other Brazilian states, in which N. caninum has been reported as the main causative agent of abortion in cattle. In this sense, seropositivity rates of 23-91.7% to this agent were described in cattle presenting abortions in the states of Rio Grande do Sul, Minas Gerais, Paraná, Rondônia, Mato Grosso and Amazonas (CERQUEIRA-CÉZAR et al, 2017). In Brazil, seroprevalence to N. caninum in cattle ranges from 6.7 to 91.7%, depending on the geographic region and cattle breed.…”

“…Although several pathogens interfere with the reproductive performance of cattle, e.g., the bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), bovine herpesvirus (BoHV), Brucella abortus (occasionally B. melitensis), N. caninum, C. burnetii, Campylobacter fetus venerealis or Campylobacter fetus fetus, Leptospira spp., Tritrichomonas foetus and Chlamydia abortus (AGERHOLM, 2013;BUTZLER, 2004;DAMMAN et al, 2015;DÍAZ APARICIO, 2013;CERQUEIRA-CÉZAR et al, 2017), there is still not enough information on the occurrence and the epidemiological impact of some pathogens on reproductive disorders in ruminants.…”

“…In Brazil, seroprevalence to N. caninum in cattle ranges from 6.7 to 91.7%, depending on the geographic region and cattle breed. Cattle can be infected by ingesting oocysts of the parasite eliminated through feces of Canidae (horizontal transmission) or via the placenta (vertical transmission) (CERQUEIRA-CÉZAR et al, 2017). Transplacental transmission was incriminated the main N. caninum's route of transmission in cattle in the state of Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil, allowing the maintenance of this agent in production systems in the study region (RAMOS et al, 2016).…”

“…While N. caninum stands out as one of the most important parasites associated with reproductive problems in cattle, such animals are considered to be resistant to T. gondii (CERQUEIRA-CÉZAR et al, 2017), in spite of its worldwide distribution and its association with abortions in small ruminants (WYROSDICK & SCHAEFER, 2015). Toxoplasmosis in animal production is serious because it poses potential risks to public health, as a result of the consumption of non-pasteurized milk and raw or underdone beef, associated with economic losses caused by abortion in small ruminants (TENTER et al, 2000;WYROSDICK & SCHAEFER, 2015).…”

Neospora caninum: soroepidemiologia de vacas e cães de propriedades leiteiras de Cunha, São Paulo, Brasil

“…Neosporosis is responsible for high economic losses in cattle, especially in dairy farming . Investment in resources and measure such as professionals to perform diagnoses, control measures for infected animals that have undergone abortion, establishment of new pregnancies, prevention of premature death of adult females following abortion, replacement of slaughtered animals, and compensation for possible losses in milk production is urgently needed (PARÉ et al, 1997;DUBEY, 1999;CERQUEIRA-CEZAR et al, 2017). In several studies carried out on dairy cows in Brazil, the occurrence of antibodies against N. caninum varied from 12.2 to 92.1% (CORBELLINI et al, 2002;GUEDES et al, 2008).…”