Seroepidemiological survey of Neospora caninum and its risk factors in farm dogs in Nakuru district, Kenya.

Tequiero Abuom Okumu,Victor Tsuma,James Wabacha,John Njenga Munene,John Van Leeuwen

doi:10.14202/vetworld.2016.1162-1166

Tequiero Abuom Okumu, Victor Tsuma + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2016.1162-1166

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Abstract

Aim:The objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of Neospora caninum (NC) and its risk factors in farm dogs in Kenya.Materials and Methods:As part of a longitudinal study on dairy cattle abortion in 2010 in Kenya, serum samples were collected from 84 dogs in 53 randomly selected dairy cattle farms to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors of seropositivity for NC.Results:15 (17.9%) of the dogs were seropositive to NC antibodies, and at least one seropositive dog was found in 12 (22.6%) of the 53 farms. The final multivariable logistic regression model identified free-roaming as the only factor significantly associated with seropositivity (odds ratio=4.48; p=0.03).Conclusion:The findings of this study indicate that canine neosporosis does exist in Kenya and that farmers should restrict their dogs from roaming to reduce the risk of their dogs becoming a reservoir for NC. More studies need to be carried out to determine the reproductive effects of NC on dairy cattle in Kenya.

Highlights

Neosporosis in dogs is caused by Neospora caninum (NC), a coccidian parasite that was first described in 1984 [1].The parasite is related to Toxoplasma gondii [2]
The impacts of canine neosporosis are two-fold: In the dog population, congenital infection can lead to neuromuscular defects and mortality [8]; and NC oocysts shed in canid feces can lead to horizontal transmission to ruminants, especially cattle, leading
15 of the 84 (17.9%; 95% confidence intervals (CI): 9.726.1) dogs sampled were positive for antibodies to NC

Summary

Introduction

Neosporosis in dogs is caused by Neospora caninum (NC), a coccidian parasite that was first described in 1984 [1].The parasite is related to Toxoplasma gondii [2]. While canids act as definitive and intermediate hosts of this parasite [1,3,4,5], many other mammalian species have been described as intermediate hosts of NC. Among these mammals are cattle, sheep, goats, deer, moose, water buffalo, camels, and wild birds [3,6]. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http:// creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated

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