Serological status of mares in parturition and the levels of antibodies (IgG) against protozoan family Sarcocystidae from their pre colostral foals

Abstract

Protozoa from the family Sarcocystidae are agents of reproductive and neurological disorders in horses. The transmission of these protozoa may occur via horizontal or vertical means, and the frequency and potential of the later is not fully elucidated in horses. Thus, the aim of study was to correlation levels of antibodies in mares with pre colostral foals seropositive and assess the level and distribution of antibodies against Neospora spp., Sarcocystis neurona and Toxoplasma gondii, in mares and pre colostral foals at the parturition. The blood samples were collected from mares immediately after parturition and from newborns before the ingestion of colostrum, and sera were analyzed for the presence of IgG by ELISA. It was found that 21.5%, 33.7% and 27.6% of mares were seropositive for Neospora spp., S. neurona and T. gondii, respectively; foals had antibodies at a rate of 8.3%, 6.6% and 6.6% for Neospora spp., S. neurona and T. gondii, respectively. Additionally, paired samples from mares and pre-colostral foals revealed an overall negative correlation between the serum reactivity against these three parasites and suggested that seronegative mares, or those with low to intermediate antibody levels, have a higher risk of giving birth to seropositive foals.

An update on Sarcocystis neurona infections in animals and equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM)

“…In another study, the median time of decay of maternal-acquired S. neurona antibodies in foals was 96 days, and these antibodies disappeared by 230 days of birth (Durate et al, 2004a). These results are in contrast to the study by Pivoto et al (2014) who reported antibodies in 61 (37.3%) of 181 mares at parturition and in pre-suckle blood samples of 6.6% foals born to these mares. These observations need confirmation because current evidence indicates that transplacental or lactogenic transmission of S. neurona is very uncommon or absent.…”

Prevalence of antibodies against Neospora spp. and Sarcocystis neurona in donkeys from northeastern Brazil

“…antibodies in Brazilian donkeys and the first detection of antibodies against S. neurona in this animal species. This is the first study related to S. neurona occurrence in donkeys and the prevalence of 21% (95% CI: 17%-26%) by SAT found was lower than the prevalence of 36.0% to 69.6% found in Brazilian horses (DUBEY & SCHARES, 2011;PIVOTO et al, 2014). In this study there was a poor agreement between IFAT and SAT.…”

All about neosporosis in Brazil

“…Mare sera were titrated further to 1:200 dilution and the seropositivity decreased to 33%, but foal sera were not titrated. In another study performed in RS, Neospora antibodies were found in 21.5% of 181 mares and in 9.3% of their foals in pre-suckling sera (PIVOTO et al, 2014); in this case, antibodies were assayed using an in-house indirect ELISA, with NC-1 strain and soluble protein from tachyzoites maintained in CV-1 cells as antigen. Low levels of maternal IgG can cross the placenta in mares.…”