Abstract

PINILLA LEON, Juan Carlos  and  DA SILVA BORGES, Natalia. Frequency of Neospora caninum in double purpose cattle on herds at the State of Guárico, Venezuela. Rev. mex. de cienc. pecuarias [online]. 2018, vol.9, n.4, pp.833-844. ISSN 2448-6698.  https://doi.org/10.22319/rmcp.v9i4.4546.

It was carried out an investigation to determine the frequency of Neospora caninum in double purpose cattle. Blood samples (n= 890) were collected in four age groups: 0-6 mo, 6-12 mo, 12-24 mo and >24 mo. The presence of antibodies was determined by an indirect ELISA kit, and the results were classified as positive and negative. The seroprevalence was 21 % in cattle, and 76.6 % in the herds evaluated. Regarding to the age group, no statistical association was found (P>0.05); however, the risk of being seropositive increased with age, indicating the high probability of horizontal transmission of N. caninum in the herd. There was no statistical association with respect to sex (P>0.05). Regarding reproductive status, a statistical association (P<0.05) was found with respect to abortion. Although all the groups were positive, cows with a history of abortion showed higher seroconversion, indicating that the risk of abortion increased with increasing levels of antibodies against the parasite. From the total positive farms (76.6 %), higher seroconversion (100 %) were observed in those with the highest number of dogs (>7 dogs), and this result indicates that a higher number of dogs, a higher prevalence of N. Caninum, since dogs are the main source of horizontal transmission. It is concluded that there is antigenic circulation of N. caninum associated to abortions in double purpose cattle of the State of Guarico, and that could be controlled improving the sanitary conditions of the herds.

Keywords : Cattle; Explotations; Parasites; Prevalence; Protozoans.

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