Caninum Antibodies In Dogs Research Articles

Occurrence of antibodies and epidemiological significance of Toxoplasma Gondii and Neospora caninum infections in canine populations of Laguna, State of Santa Catarina.

Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are two species of protozoa that belong to the Apicomplexa phylum and are distributed worldwide. T. gondii is one of the most extensively studied parasites due to its significant health implications. In this study, an investigation on the occurrence of T. gondii and N. caninum antibodies in dogs from a municipality on the southern coast of Santa Catarina, Brazil, and its associated risk factors were conducted. Blood samples were collected from 238 dogs, and a questionnaire was used to gather relevant information about the dogs, including their age, gender, breed, housing and habits. The serum samples were then subjected to indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) using a cutoff of 1:64 and 1:50 to detect antibodies against T. gondii and N. caninum, respectively. The study's findings revealed that the frequency of T. gondii was 23.1% (55/238), and no factors associated with infection in these animals were identified. However, the frequency of N. caninum was 4.2% (10/238), and the study identified the type of housing and environment in which the dogs lived as the factors that were associated with the infection. Stray animals and those that lived exclusively outdoors had a greater frequency of N. caninum. These results indicate that dogs from Laguna, Santa Catarina, Brazil, are exposed to T. gondii and N. caninum. As such, further studies are necessary to enhance the understanding of the nature of these protozoan infections in the municipality.

Seroprevalence of Neospora caninum in pet cats, dogs and rabbits from urban areas of Poland

BackgroundNeospora caninum (N. caninum) has a broad intermediate host range and might cause multisystemic lesions in various species of animals. Dogs are both intermediate and definitive hosts of the parasite and play a crucial role in the horizontal transmission of this protozoan to other animals. Cats and rabbits could be sensitive to infection with N. caninum, however, clinical symptoms and the exact route of infection in these species are unknown. The epidemiology of N. caninum in cats and rabbits has been barely researched, and there is no published record of the seroprevalence of N. caninum infection in these species in Poland. Thus, the present study aimed to determine the frequency of seroreagents for N. caninum within pet dogs, cats and rabbits from urban areas of Poland and to identify possible risk factors for these animals.ResultsIn total, serum samples from 184 cats (Felis catus), 203 dogs (Canis familiaris) and 70 rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) were used in the study. The seroprevalence of anti-N. caninum antibodies in dogs and cats reached 1.0% (2/203; 95% CI: 0.3–3.5) and 3.3% (6/184; 95% CI: 1.5–6.9), respectively. No significant differences in seroprevalence regarding age group, gender, symptoms or sampling location were found. All 70 samples from pet rabbits were negative for anti-N. caninum antibodies.ConclusionsThe seroprevalence rates of N. caninum in dogs and cats in the present study were low, however, our results confirmed N. caninum circulates among dog and cat populations in Poland, and neosporosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of neuro-muscular disorders in these species. This is the first serological survey of N. caninum in European pet cats and rabbits. The role of pet rabbits in N. caninum epidemiology and circulation in Poland is marginal.

Seroprevalence of Neospora caninum antibodies in dogs, cows, and humans in Assiut province, Egypt: a pilot study.

Seroprevalence of Neospora caninum antibodies in dogs, cows, and humans in Assiut province, Egypt: a pilot study.

Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum Antibodies in Dogs and Cats from Egypt and Risk Factor Analysis.

Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are major protozoan parasites of worldwide distribution and significance in veterinary medicine and, for T. gondii, in public health. Cats and dogs, as final hosts for T. gondii and N. caninum, respectively, have a key function in environmental contamination with oocysts and, thus, in parasite transmission. Very little is known about the prevalence of T. gondii infections in dogs and cats in Egypt, and even less about the prevalence of N. caninum in the same hosts. In the current study, 223 serum samples of both dogs (n = 172) and cats (n = 51) were investigated for specific antibodies to T. gondii and N. caninum using commercially available ELISAs. A risk factor analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with seropositivity. Exposure to T. gondii was reported in 23.3% of the dogs and in 9.8% of the cats, respectively. In addition, N. caninum-specific antibodies were recorded in 5.8% of dogs and in 3.4% of cats. A mixed infection was found in two dogs (1.2%) and in one cat (2%). Antibodies to T. gondii in dogs were significantly more frequent in dogs aged 3 years or more and in male German Shepherds. As this breed is often used as watchdogs and was the most sampled breed in Alexandria governorate, the purpose "watchdog" (compared to "stray" or "companion"), the male sex, and the governorate "Alexandria" also had a significantly higher seroprevalence for T. gondii. No factors associated with antibodies to N. caninum could be identified in dogs, and no significant factors were determined in cats for either T. gondii or N. caninum infection. Our study substantially adds to the knowledge of T. gondii infection in dogs and cats and presents data on N. caninum infection in cats for the first and in dogs in Egypt for the second time.

Investigation of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in dogs in Osmaniye province

Neospora caninum Apicomplexa şubesinde yer alan parazitik bir protozondur. Son konakları canidae ailesinde bulunan carnivorlar, ara konakları ise sığır başta olmak üzere, koyun, keçi, manda ve at gibi çiftlik hayvanlarıdır. Hastalık köpeklerde genellikle asemptomatik seyreder. Klinik neosporosis genellikle çok genç, çok yaşlı ve bağışıklık sistemi baskılanmış köpeklerde farklı düzeylerde ortaya çıkar. Enfekte hayvanlarda nöromuskuler bozukluklar, multifokal sistemik yayılım ve dermal semptomlar görülebilir. Etken sığır başta olmak üzere bazı ara konaklarda abort, ölü doğum, fötal ölümler ve sonuçta ciddi ekonomik kayıplara neden olur. Hastalığın sığırcılık işletmelerinde neden olduğu yıllık ekonomik kaybın dünya genelinde 1,298 milyar dolar, Türkiye’de ise 40,5 milyon dolar olduğu tahmin edilmektedir. N.caninum’un domestik siklustaki en önemli konağı köpektir. Bu çalışmanın amacı Osmaniye yöresindeki köpeklerin N.caninum’a maruziyet durumlarını belirlemekti. Bu amaçla Osmaniye’nin farklı ilçelerinden 71’i erkek ve 34’ü dişi olmak üzere toplam 105 köpekten kan örnekleri alınarak N.caninum antikorlarına karşı c-ELISA yöntemi ile test edildi. Etkenin ortalama seroprevalansı %35,23 (37/105) olarak belirlendi. Çalışmada N.caninum seroprevalansı ile ırk, cinsiyet ve yaş arasındaki ilişki istatistiksel olarak önemsiz bulundu (p˃0.05). Bu çalışma ile Osmaniye yöresindeki köpeklerin etkene maruziyet durumu ilk kez ortaya konmuştur.

Soroprevalência e fatores de risco para a infecção por Neospora caninum em cães de áreas rurais da Região Semiárida Brasileira

Neospora caninum is a protozoan of the heteroxenous cycle, whose definitive hosts include domestic and wild canids, while intermediate hosts are herbivores. Its occurrence in dogs of rural areas deserves attention due to the risk of transmission to the animals of production, mainly cattle. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of N. caninum antibodies in dogs belonging to rural areas of the municipality of Sousa, the semi-arid region of Paraiba, Northeastern Brazil. Blood sera from dogs of six rural communities were analyzed. The indirect fluorescent antibody test was performed for the detection of anti-N. caninum IgG. The results were considered positive when the total peripheral fluorescence of the tachyzoites occurred at a dilution ≥1:50. The frequency of seropositivity was 9.18% (9/98 cases). Antibody titers ranged from to 200, with the 1:50 titer being predominant. Among the evaluated sites, 66.6% (4/6) showed the presence of at least one seropositive dog. The variable contact with cattle was considered a risk factor (odds ratio = 15.25) for infection by the parasite, demonstrating a higher risk of contact with contaminated tissues. It was concluded that dogs from rural areas of the municipality of Sousa were exposed to N. caninum, and it was suggested that contact between dogs and cattle be avoided as a control measure to prevent infection in dogs.

Serological study of Neospora caninum infection in dogs in central China.

Neospora caninum is a protozoan parasite that causes abortion in cattle as well as reproduction problems and neurological disorders in dogs. Dogs are important in the epidemiology of N. caninum because they act as definitive hosts, shedding oocysts in the environment. To investigate the seroprevalence of N. caninum infection in dogs in central China, 1176 serum samples were collected from domestic dogs in Henan province, central China between March 2015 and February 2016 and tested for IgG antibody against N. caninum, using the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). The overall seroprevalence of N. caninum was nearly 15% (172/1176). No significant difference was observed between this seroprevalence according to sex and breed of dogs (p > 0.05). The infection rate in rural dogs (18%) was higher (p < 0.05) than in urban dogs (11%). The prevalence of N. caninum infection in dogs increased (p < 0.05) with age. The results of the present study indicate the high prevalence of N. caninum antibodies in dogs in Henan province, central China. Sanitary conditions and animal health must be improved to prevent the transmission risk of N. caninum by dogs.

FREQUÊNCIA DE ANTICORPOS CONTRA Neospora caninum em CÃES DO MUNICÍPIO DE ILHÉUS, BAHIA

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of Neospora caninum antibodies in dogs at Ilheus Municipality, in the State of Bahia, as well as the influence of the dogs’ habitat on their seropositivity. A total of 161 blood samples were collected and the indirect immunofluorescence reaction was conducted, with a cut-off of 1:50. The statistical analysis was conducted based on the chi-square test as corrected by Yates. A seropositivity of 19 (11.8%) samples was determined, whereas 21.9% were stray animals and 9.3% house pets (p=0.1). The dogs in urban areas had a higher seropositivity than those periurban areas (p=0.03). Such results indicate the presence of N. caninum in the region. KEY WORDS: Canine, neosporosis, prevalence, risk factors.

Occurrence of antibodies to Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii in dogs from Pernambuco, Northeast Brazil

A serological survey was carried out to assess the occurrence of anti- Neospora caninum antibodies in dogs from the State of Pernambuco. A total of 625 serum samples of dogs (289 from Paulista, 168 from Amaraji and 168 from Garanhuns) were tested by an immunofluorescence antibody assay for the detection of anti- N. caninum antibodies. A total of 177 (28.3%; IC 95%, 24.9–32.1) samples were positive. The seropositivity rates found in Paulista, Amaraji and Garanhuns were 26% (IC 95%, 21–31.4), 26.2% (IC 95%, 19.7–33.5) and 34.5% (IC 95%, 27.4–42.2), respectively. Of the 177 serum samples positive to anti- N. caninum antibodies, 170 were additionally tested for the presence of anti- Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and out of these 57.6% (IC 95%, 49.8–65.2) were positive. The results indicate that dogs from Amaraji, Paulista and Garanhuns are exposed to both N. caninum and T. gondii infections. The presence of dogs infected by N. caninum in Pernambuco represents a potential risk factor for the occurrence of outbreaks of abortion in cattle and small ruminants in this state. This study is the largest serological survey on the presence of anti- N. caninum antibodies in dogs carried out in Brazil and reports for the first time the exposure to N. caninum and T. gondii in dogs from Pernambuco.

PREVALÊNCIA DE Neospora caninum EM CÃES DE GOIÂNIA

Neospora caninum is a coccidium from Sarcocystidae family and Apicomplexaphylum that causes neurological disorders in dogs and, since 1989, described as anabortion agent in bovine cattle. Dogs and coyotes had their role on the horizontal transmission proved, and they were classified as definitive hosts. The objectiveof this study was to determinate, through indirect immunofluorescence (IFI) thepresence of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in dogs of the city of Goiânia-Go,from the Zoonosis center, the Federal University of Goiás (UFG) VeterinaryHospital and from private clinics. From the total of examined dogs, 32.97 %(65/197) were positive, with titers higher than 1:50. Among the 72 animals fromthe zoonosis center of Goiânia, 36.1 % (26/72) showed positive results and amongthe 125 dogs from the UFG veterinary hospital and private clinics, 31.2 % (39/125)were positive to N. caninum.

Prevalence of anti- Neospora caninum antibodies in dogs from urban, periurban and rural areas of the city of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais—Brazil

In Brazil there are few reports on the prevalence of anti- Neospora caninum antibodies in dogs from urban, periurban and rural areas. Serum samples from 450 dogs, 300 from urban, 58 from periurban and 92 from rural areas, were tested for the detection of anti- N. caninum IgG antibodies using IFAT: indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT, ≥50). Antibodies were observed in 63 (14%) of the 450 serum samples analyzed, with 32 (10.7%) in dogs coming from the urban area, 11 (18.9%) from the periurban area and 20 (21.7%) from the rural area. Statistical differences were seen between the occurrences in animals from the urban area and those of the rural area ( P = 0.01). The antibody titers found were: 1:50 in 20 dogs, 1:100–1:800 in 41 dogs, and 1:3200 in two dogs. In the female dogs, a smaller prevalence of dogs with antibodies was observed in those from the urban area (7.5%) in comparison with those of the rural (21.0%) ( P = 0.05) and periurban (23.3%) ( P = 0.01) areas. There were growing levels of antibody prevalence with the increase in age of the dogs in all three areas studied. Although this increase was not significant, it indicates a tendency towards more infections with age, suggesting post-natal exposure to N. caninum. However, a significant difference ( P = 0.05) was observed in the occurrence of anti- N. caninum antibodies in dogs with ages = 2 years in urban (13.1% urban) versus rural enviroments (27.1% rural). Among the other age brackets studied the difference was not significant. The results confirm the presence of N. caninum in the region and reveal the important role of dogs in the parasite’s epidemiology.