Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in captive elephants (Elephas maximus indicus) in Kanchanaburi province

• Published in: Wētchasān sattawaphāet Vol. 42; no. 2; p. 235
• Main Authors: Wiengcharoen, Jitbanjong, Nokkaew, Weerapan, Prasithpon, Samart, Prasomtong, Pornsak, Sukthana, Yaowalark
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bangkok Chulalongkorn University, Faculty of Veterinary Science 01.07.2012
• Subjects: Age; Animal diseases; Antibodies; Antigens; Captive elephants; Dogs; Elephantidae; Elephants; Elephas maximus; Elephas maximus indicus; Immunoglobulins; Indian elephant; Infection; Infections; Kanchanaburi province; Morbidity; Neospora caninum; Parasites; Protozoa; Rodents; Seroprevalence; Studies; Thailand; Toxoplasma gondii; Thailand
• ISSN: 0125-6491

Although neosporosis has long been detected in several wildlife species from different parts of the world, until now there has been no report of Neospora caninum infection in elephants in any country of the world. Serum samples of 115 captive elephant (Elephas maximus indicus) from the westernmost province of Kanchanaburi, Thailand were investigated for antibodies to N. caninum and Toxoplasma gondii. Antibodies of N. caninum were detected by the competitive ELISA test and T.gondii by the Latex agglutination test. The prevalence of T. gondii antibodies was 13.04% (15/115), while anti-N. caninum was 33.04% (38/115). Only 7/115 (6.09%) were positive for both parasites. This study showed a higher seroprevalence for N. caninum in elephants than the prevalence of N. caninum-infection in dairy cattle in Thailand from prior studies.