Evidence of Neospora caninum infection in buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) from Northwestern Romania

Serosurvey and associated risk factors for Neospora caninum infection in Egyptian water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

Neosporosis is a parasitic disease that causes reproductive disorders in animals, making it a barrier to maximum efficiency. The purpose of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of Neospora caninum (N. caninum) antibodies in water buffaloes from four governorates in northern Egypt. A commercial indirect-ELISA test was used to detect antibodies against N. caninum in the serum of 450 water buffaloes. The total seroprevalence of N. caninum in water buffaloes from Egypt was 31.3%, and the highest prevalence was observed in Gharbia governorate. The identified risk factors for N. caninum infections in water buffaloes were sex (OR = 1.96, 95%CI: 1.22-4.17), buffaloes more than 4 years of age ( OR = 5.80, 95%CI: 2.26-14.86), abortion in second trimester (OR = 16.48, 95%%CI: 2.99-34.03), history of abortion (OR = 3.45, 95%CI: 1.58-7.52) and contact with dogs (OR = 2.55, 95%CI: 1.51-4.32). Thus, more studies are needed to determine the role of buffaloes in the epidemiology of neosporosis in Egypt.

Seroprevalence of Neospora caninum and risk factors associated with infection in water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) from Maranhão State, Brazil

The aim of this work was to determine the seroprevalence of Neospora caninum in buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) from Maranhão State, Brazil, and identify risk factors associated with infection. In total, 338 buffaloes of different ages and both sexes from four farms were randomly selected. Information about the study region, animals and management was collected using an epidemiological questionnaire. Sera were subjected to an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) to detect anti-N caninum antibodies, while N. caninum DNA was detected using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. The overall seroprevalence of N. caninum in buffaloes was 27.5% (93/338), while DNA was detected in 3.0% (3/101) samples. The proportion of positive animals detected by IFAT and PCR simultaneously was 2.6% (2/77). The risk factors for N. caninum infection were contact with fomites (p = 0.022), management conditions (p = 0.005), calving interval of 20 months (p = 0.010) and deworming management (application 3 times a year in adults and calves, p = 0.020; change of anthelmintic group, p = 0.040). By multivariate analysis, management conditions was a risk factor for N. caninum infection with odds ratio of 2.2 (95% CI 1.0-4.6). This is the first report of the prevalence and risk factors for neosporosis in B. bubalis of Maranhão State, Brazil. Thus, N. caninum is widely distributed in buffalo herds in Maranhão, with management conditions being a risk factor for infection. Further studies should be conducted to elucidate the importance of buffaloes in the epidemiology of neosporosis in Maranhão State.

A Review of Toxoplasmosis and Neosporosis in Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

Toxoplasmosis and neosporosis are diseases with worldwide distribution that are associated with reproductive problems in livestock and responsible for economic losses. This review presents an overview of the current knowledge relative to these diseases in water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). In general, buffalo are considered resistant to clinical toxoplasmosis because there are studies only reporting serological evidence of natural infection in these animals. Studies have described age, poor hygienic status of the farm, and presence of cats as risk factors for the development of Toxoplasma gondii infection in buffalo. It must be highlighted that buffalo meat, which does not receive adequate freezing treatment, could be a potential source for toxoplasmic human infection as well as the importance of raw buffalo milk in the transmission of toxoplasmosis to human beings. Neospora caninum is considered one of the major causes of abortion and responsible for huge economic losses in cattle. Vertical transmission is the main route to infect calves, and is responsible for maintaining the parasite within a herd. In buffalo, vertical transmission is also described; moreover, although there are indications that N. caninum may be associated with abortion in dairy buffalo, the reproductive importance of neosporosis is apparently lower in buffalo relative to cattle. Most studies have identified a higher time of exposition to N. caninum oocysts relative to age. The household system was also described as a risk factor for infection, possibly due to persistent contact between the home-raised buffalo and canids. The fetal immune competence of buffalo is similar to bovine, and buffalo fetus are highly susceptible to infection during the first trimester of pregnancy, indicating that N. caninum may be an abortigenic agent in buffaloes. Alternatively, it is interesting to note there is evidence that the inflammatory response in pregnant buffalo infected with N. caninum is mild enough to avoid abortion in most cases. It is proposed that the possible transmission of toxoplasmosis through unprocessed milk and buffalo meat may occur, which is important in terms of public health. Additionally, there is strong evidence to suggest that N. caninum may be associated with abortion in buffalo.