Abstract
Neosporosis primarily affects cattle and dogs and is not currently considered a zoonotic disease. Toxoplasmosis is a zoonosis with a worldwide distribution that is asymptomatic in most cases, but when acquired during pregnancy, it can have serious consequences. The seropositivity rates determined by the indirect fluorescent antibody test for Neospora caninum (N. caninum) and Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) were 24.3% (49 samples) and 26.8% (54 samples), respectively. PCR positivity for N. caninum was observed in two samples of cord blood (1%) using the Nc5 and ITS1 gene, positivity for T. gondii was observed in 16 samples using the primer for the B1 gene (5.5% positivity in cord blood and 2.5% positivity in placental tissue). None of the samples showed structures characteristic of tissue cysts or inflammatory infiltrate on histopathology. Significant associations were observed only between N. caninum seropositivity and the presence of domestic animals (p = 0.039) and presence of dogs (p = 0.038) and between T. gondii seropositivity and basic sanitation (p = 0.04). This study obtained important findings regarding the seroprevalence and molecular detection of N. caninum and T. gondii in pregnant women; however, more studies are necessary to establish a correlation between risk factors and infection.
Highlights
Neosporosis primarily affects cattle and dogs and is not currently considered a zoonotic disease
The forms of infection are essentially the same as those of toxoplasmosis, occurring horizontally in herbivores via intake of water or foods contaminated by oocysts and in carnivores via ingestion of tissues infected with tachyzoites or tissue cysts
Of the 201 samples analyzed, 24.3% were positive for IgG anti-N. caninum antibodies (Table 1), and no sample was positive for IgM antibodies
Summary
Neosporosis primarily affects cattle and dogs and is not currently considered a zoonotic disease. Vertical transmission may occur, and N. caninum is very efficiently transplacentally transmitted in cattle, which may cause abortion[2] or birth of infected and asymptomatic calves[2,3]. Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by the parasite T. gondii and may be congenital or acquired[5]. Intake of oocysts present in the environment and consumption of undercooked meat infected with tissue cysts are the two main forms of transmission in acquired infection[5,6]. The diseases caused by T. gondii and N. caninum have similar characteristics, such as neurological conditions and reproductive pathologies, due to the morphological, genetic and immunological similarities of the two parasites[9,10]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
