Neospora caninum infection in dairy farms with history of abortion in West of Iran

Abstract

Neospora caninum is a major cause of abortion and economic losses among dairy farms in Iran and other countries. The main goal of current investigation was to evaluate the presence of antibodies against N. caninum and associated risk factors in dairy herds with history of abortion in Hamedan province of West Iran. A total numbers of 476 and 185 blood samples of pregnant cattle and farm dogs from 10 dairy farms with history of abortion were randomly collected. Bulk milk sample was taken from each farm. All samples were subjected for detection of IgG antibody against N. caninum using ELISA technique. Of all examined animals, 24.8% of cattle and 8.65% of dogs were seropositive to N. caninum . The seroprevalence had significant differences with abortion, stillbirth, metritis, breed, close contact to dogs, wild carnivores, rodents, poultry, and pregnancy using artificial insemination method. There were no significant differences among seroprevalence and different age groups, number and stage of gestation, and herd population. In all investigated farms, bulk milk examination was positive. In examined dogs, there was significant difference between seroprevalence and sex. It was concluded that N. caninum infection may be responsible for abortion and economic losses in dairy farms of the region. This was also the first comprehensive report on associated risk factors to N. caninum infection in dairy farms in the region.

Neospora caninum infection in Iran (2004–2020): A review

“…14.2% and 20% of native cattle were seropositive in Hamedan district, West of Iran (Gharekhani et al 2012 ; Gharekhani and Heidari 2014a ). In pregnant cows, seroprevalence of 24.8%, 30.4%, and 38.8% was reported in Hamedan, Shiraz, and Tehran, respectively (Salehi et al 2010 ; Gharekhani and Yakhchali 2019 ). DNA of N. caninum is isolated in 11–66.7% of aborted fetus materials using molecular techniques (Habibi et al 2005 ; Rafati and Jafarian 2014).…”

“…In dairy farms, the seroprevalence rate had significant connection with history of abortion in individual level ( P = 0.009), stillbirth ( P = 0.02), and metritis in animals ( P = 0.004), while no significant correlation was seen between stage of gestation ( P = 0.977) and number of gestations ( P = 0.986) in pregnant cows and also herd size ( P = 0.178) with seropositivity of animals. Additionally, 33.7% of seropositive animals had history of artificial insemination ( P < 0.0001) (Gharekhani and Yakhchali 2019 ). The risk of infection may increase with gestation, suggesting that horizontal transmission of N. caninum was particular importance in some herds with the presence of dog in farm (Dubey et al 2007 ).…”

“…In addition, paralysis of jaw, atrophy, dysphagia, and heart failure are gradually observed (Barber and Trees 1996). The presence of infected dog in dairy farms is a risk factor for herd population (Gharekhani and Yakhchali 2019 ; Ribeiro et al 2019 ). Also, dogs commuting between farms and rural areas have an important impact in spreading of the infection.…”

“…Animals with latent disease and/or co-infection with other pathogens are high susceptible to N. caninum infection (Anvari et al 2020 ). The simultaneous presence of N. caninum and T. gondii infections was detected in 2.8%, 4%, and 8.9% of dogs from Hamedan, Ahvaz, and other regions of Iran, respectively (Hosseininejad and Hosseini 2011 ; Hosseininejad et al 2018 ; Gharekhani and Yakhchali 2019 ). Also, N. caninum and Leishmania infantum co-infection was 9.4% in Northwest of Iran (Sharifdini et al 2011 ).…”

“…Rodents are one of the intermediate hosts for N. caninum and plays a significant role in continuity of parasite cycle (Dubey et al 2007 ). The presence of rodents in dairy farms had a positive correlation with seroprevalence rate in cows and also is a risk factor for neosporosis in herd (Gharekhani and Yakhchali 2019 ). Yet, there are only four published papers on Neospora infection in Iranian rodents, only (Table 4 ).…”