Detection of Neospora Caninum DNA in Wild Birds from Italy

Abstract

The role of avian species in the Neospora caninum life cycle has not been completely elucidated, and epidemiological data from Europe are scant. The aim of the present report was to evaluate the presence of N. caninum DNA in the tissues of 302 birds belonging to different avian species, along with IFAT titers. Forty-two out of the 302 birds (13.9%) showed low serological titers (1/50 and 1/100) against N. caninum. These data, positive for 31 animals (10.3%), were corroborated by PCR. Twenty-two hearts and eighteen brains scored positive, while nine subjects resulted had parasite DNA both in their hearts and brains. Serological data showed significantly higher results in waterfowl in respect to non-waterfowl avian species. This finding indicates a higher exposure of water birds to the parasite. These avian species, in fact, which feed directly from soil and/or water, are prone to ingest oocysts excreted by final canid hosts. The present study adds information to the state of art of N. caninum epidemiology in Italy, even if more investigations using bio-assays are needed to allow for a serological/parasitological follow-up to evaluate the real impact of the avian species in maintaining the parasite in main reservoirs.

Neospora caninum in free-range chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) from southern Brazil

“…In other countries, the seroprevalence ranged from 23.1% to 41.5% (Martins et al, 2011;Feng et al, 2016;Rocchigiani et al, 2017). A similar prevalence was detected in waterfowl birds (17.5%, 32/182) from Italy, indicating that, as these bird species feed directly on the ground, they have a higher seroprevalence (Nardoni et al, 2019). However, in an urban park from Brazil, only one goose (Anser sp.)…”

“…However, the presence of N. caninum DNA in chickens was first reported in the brain of six animals, confirming that chickens are natural intermediate hosts of the parasite (Costa et al, 2008). In wild birds that tested seropositive with a low titer of the antibody, a high rate of positive PCR samples was detected, indicating that these birds could also be involved in the epidemiology of N. caninum (Nardoni et al, 2019). DNA of N. caninum was also detected in brain and heart tissues from wild waterfowl from Italy, showing that these animals can become infected and could contribute to the spread of the parasite.…”

Genetic Detection of Neospora caninum in the Blood of Dairy Cattle from Boyacá, Colombia

“…Serological-based methods and immunohistochemical staining are the most common techniques for detecting N. caninum infections in cattle and several hosts, as evidenced by an increasing amount of studies in countries from Africa (Amdouni et al, 2018), Asia (Pagmadulam et al, 2018;Yao et al, 2009;Yu et al, 2007) Nardoni et al, 2019;Rocchigiani et al, 2017). It has been used for the direct demonstration of parasite DNA in tissues and body fluids such as peripheral blood (Okeoma et al, 2004;Yao et al, 2009), serum (Bărburaș et al, 2019;McInnes et al, 2006), and semen (Amdouni et al, 2019;Ferre et al, 2005).…”