Serological survey of Neospora caninum in small ruminants from Pernambuco State, Brazil

• Published in: Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria Vol. 20; no. 3; pp. 246 - 248
• Main Authors: Tembue, Antonio Amélia Santos Mucalane, Ramos, Rafael Antonio de Nascimento, de Sousa, Thais Rabelo, Albuquerque, Alessandra Ribeiro, da Costa, Alvimar José, Meunier, Isabelle Maria Jaqueline, Faustino, Maria Aparecida da Gloria, Alves, Leucio Câmara
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Brazil Colégio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinária 01.07.2011
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies, Protozoan - blood; Brazil; Coccidiosis - diagnosis; Coccidiosis - veterinary; Female; Goat Diseases - blood; Goat Diseases - diagnosis; Goats; Male; Neospora - immunology; PARASITOLOGY; Serologic Tests; Sheep; Sheep Diseases - blood; Sheep Diseases - diagnosis; VETERINARY SCIENCES; Brazil; pequenos ruminantes; small ruminants; Cocciodiose; Coccidiosis; sorologia; serology
• ISSN: 1984-2961; 1984-2961
• DOI: 10.1590/s1984-29612011000300013

Neospora caninum infection is an important cause of bovine abortion as well as neonatal mortality in goats and sheep. A serological survey for antibodies against N. caninum in goats and sheep was carried out in the municipality of Ibimirim, PE, Northeastern Brazil. The imunnofluoresce antibody test showed that 26.6% (85/319) of the goats and 64.2% (52/81) of the sheep were positive. Serologic reactivity was associated with age in goats (p < 0.01) and sheep (p > 0.05), with increasing rates in older animals. These results indicate exposure to N. caninum among small ruminants in the study area.