Ocurrence Of Antibodies Against Neospora Caninum In Sheep In The Humid

HECKER Y.; MANAZZA JA; SPÄTH EJ; ROBERI JL; UNZAGA JM; VENTURINI MC; LLOBERAS; CANO D.; CAMPERO CM; MOORE DP

Buenos Aires

Congreso; 23 rd. International Conference of the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology; 2011

Asociación Argentina de Parasitología Veterinaria

Neosporosis is an important infection in young and adult sheep, leading to low production and abortion in other countries around the world. There are about 3,000 and 2,400,000 sheep involved milk and meat production in the humid pampas, respectively. The aim of this work was to describe the ocurrence of antibodies against Neospora caninum in sheep from humid pampas, Argentina. A serological survey of Neospora caninum was carried out in 850 sheep from 11 herds. An indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) was performed and serological titers ¡Ý1:50 were considered positive. Data regarding to sex, categories and type of exploitation were available and associations with serostatus were tested. Antibodies to N. caninum were detected in 22 sheep (2.6%) at titers 50: 7 animals (31.8%); 200: 4 animals (18.2%); 800: 5 animals (22.7%); 1,600: 2 animals (9.1%) and 3,200: 4 animals (18.2%). At least 7/12 (58.3%) herds had one seropositive animal.There was no effect of the production system, sex and status on the prevalence of the disease (Fisher´s Exact Test, p>0.05). Currently, serology for Toxoplasma gondii is being assessed. This is the first report of N. caninum exposure in sheep from Argentina; however this infectious agent should not play an important role as an important abortifacient agent sheep.