Abstract

FERNANDEZ FERNANDEZ, José G  and  GARCIA, Francisco. Serological diagnosis of Bovine Neosporosis in farms from Tucacas, Falcon state, Venezuela. Zootecnia Trop. [online]. 2013, vol.31, n.4, pp.291-298. ISSN 0798-7269.

Neospora caninum is a protozoan parasite which is a major cause of bovine abortions worldwide and an important agent that induces neonatal mortality in cattle, sheep, goats, deer and horses in many countries. N. caninum antibodies in bovine blood can be demonstrated by serological assays such as the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT), direct agglutination test, or enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The present study was done to determine the prevalence of antibodies to N. caninum in eight dual purpose cattle farms in Tucacas region, Falcon state, Venezuela. The prevalence of N. caninum in the ELISA was 20.6%. There was no significant differences (P>0.05) by breed effect in Bos taurus (25.9%) and Bos taurus x Bos indicus crosses (18.9%). The seropositivity animals included 36 of 152 (23.7%) adult cows, 8 of 53 (15.1%) heifers, and 0 of 8 (0.0%) calves. The association between seropositivity and age was no significant differences (P>0.05). No crossreactivity was found between N. caninum antigens for the ELISA and T. gondii antigens for the hemaglutination inhibition test in sera of cattle with natural infection.

Keywords : Neospora caninum; serological diagnosis; Venezuela.

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