Abstract

CONZUELO SIERRA, Rocío et al. Risk factors associated with Neospora caninum antibody seroprevalence in dairy cattle in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Rev. mex. de cienc. pecuarias [online]. 2011, vol.2, n.1, pp.15-24. ISSN 2448-6698.

The purpose of this research was to study potential risk factors, including possible contamination of drinking water with parasite oocysts, associated with the seroprevalence of N. caninum antibodies in dairy herds in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Serum samples from 150 cows were analyzed using the ELISA technique. N. caninum DNA was determined in the drinking water using the nested PCR test. A survey was undertaken as to identify different characteristics and husbandry practices among herds. Both N. caninum antibody seroprevalence and the frequency of N. caninum DNA in drinking water samples were calculated. The association between seroprevalence and each of the factors considered as potential risk factors was calculated by determining the odds ratio (OR). N. caninum seroprevalence was 30 %, and the DNA of this parasite was found in 90 % of the water samples collected. The following potential risk factors were identified with a confidence interval of 95%: presence of coyotes (OR= 2.40, 1.05- 5.47, P<0.05), presence of domestic poultry in the farm (OR= 2.32, 1.06-5.30, P<0.05), history of mycotoxins (OR= 4.16; 1.41-13.18, P<0.05), and abortion background (OR= 2.13, 0.95-4.81, P<0.05).

Keywords : Neospora caninum; Risk Factors; Seroprevalence; DNA; Water.

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