CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

Neospora caninum is one of the most frequently diagnosed abortifacientpathogens in cattle. There is abundant genomic information about the parasiteitself, but very little is known about the genetic variability of resistance inthe most common intermediate host. The aim of this review was to compileall the available information about the genetic variability associated withthe resistance to N. caninum both between and within cattle breeds. Wesystematically searched for published studies that investigated the influenceof genetics of the host on the prevalence of N. caninum and risk of abortion.Beyond the potential confounding effects of feeding systems, management andanimal density, some lines of evidence suggest that Holstein, the most popularbreed for milk production, has a comparatively higher risk of abortion due toinfections by N. caninum, whereas some beef breeds from Continental Europeseem to be more resistant. It is still not clear if different genetic mechanisms ofresistance are involved in the two known routes of infection: postnatal ingestionof oocysts or transplacental transmission from the infected dam to the fetus.Genomic information associated with susceptibility to infection and risk ofabortion in different cattle breeds is still scarce. The information reportedhere could be useful to identify new research alternatives and to define novelstrategies to deal with this major problem of animal production.

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