Seroprevalence of Neosporosis in Dogs from Center and North-West of Romania

Abstract

Neospora caninum is a protozoan responsible for cattle abortions worldwide. In dogs, the infection with this parasit e can cause a sevear disease represented by various clinical signs as ataxia, ascending paralys is and nervous symptoms. It can also Statistically (p=0.003) females (38.0%, 95% CI 32.3 -44.1%) were more affected than males (28.1%, 95% CI (23.7-32.9%) at 1:50 dilution. The most affected were the dogs with age older than 5 years (37.5%, 95% CI 30.3-45.1%) probably because of their weak immune system. The differences between age groups were statistically significant, p=0.0068. In rural dogs the seroprevalence of neosporosis was higher ( 34.3%) than in urban dogs (31.0%), but not significant. Conclusions. Neosporosis is a serious problem worldwide and the value of 32.3% of infection in dogs taken under study reveals the fac t that also in Romania a large number of dogs are infected with this parasite. Dogs are more affected as their age increases, infection reaching a value of 37.5% in dogs older than 5 year s.