First confirmed case of ovine neosporosis associated with fetal death in Greece

IF 1.4 Q3 PARASITOLOGY

Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports Pub Date : 2025-03-07 DOI:10.1016/j.vprsr.2025.101237

Ioannis Gouvias , Constantina N. Tsokana , Athanasios Moutos , Julio Benavides-Silván , Marta Silva , Ilias Bouzalas , Evangelia Davidopoulou , Emmanouil Kalaitzakis , Eleni Malissiova , Raphaël Guatteo , George Valiakos

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Abstract

The role of Neospora caninum in ovine reproductive failures is often neglected. This study documents the first confirmed case of ovine neosporosis in Greece associated with fetal death. The investigation was prompted by reproduction problems on a farm raising Lacaune and Lacaune x Assaf dairy sheep in Northern Greece. A reduction in conception rate from 90 % to 85 % and increased incidence of embryonic losses and pyometras were recorded. During the investigation, an ewe with ultrasound (U/S)-diagnosed fetal death was blood sampled. Serology showed the presence of anti-N. caninum IgG serum antibodies using ELISA. Molecular testing for 10 common abortifacient agents resulted positive only for N. caninum DNA in the embryo's placentomes and brain. Histopathological and immunohistochemical examination of the placentomes further confirmed N. caninum as the causative agent. Our findings suggest that N. caninum infections in sheep may be underdiagnosed, emphasizing the need for veterinarians to include ovine neosporosis in their differential diagnosis of reproductive failures.

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希腊首例与胎儿死亡相关的绵羊新孢子病确诊病例

犬新孢子虫在绵羊繁殖失败中的作用经常被忽视。本研究记录了希腊首例与胎儿死亡相关的绵羊新孢子病确诊病例。这项调查是由希腊北部一个饲养拉acaune和拉acaune x Assaf奶羊的农场的繁殖问题引起的。受孕率从90%下降到85%，胚胎丢失和子宫积脓的发生率增加。在调查期间，对一只超声（U/S）诊断为胎儿死亡的母羊进行了血样采集。血清学显示存在抗n。ELISA法检测犬IgG血清抗体。对10种常用堕胎药物的分子检测结果显示，只有胚胎胎盘和大脑中的犬链球菌DNA呈阳性。胎盘的组织病理学和免疫组织化学检查进一步证实了犬奈瑟菌是病原体。我们的研究结果表明，绵羊中的犬奈瑟菌感染可能未被充分诊断，强调兽医需要将羊新孢子虫病纳入其生殖失败的鉴别诊断。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports Multiple-

CiteScore

2.90

自引率

7.10%

发文量

126

审稿时长

97 days

期刊介绍： Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports focuses on aspects of veterinary parasitology that are of regional concern, which is especially important in this era of climate change and the rapid and often unconstrained travel of people and animals. Relative to regions, this journal will accept papers of the highest quality dealing with all aspects of disease prevention, pathology, treatment, epidemiology, and control of parasites within the field of veterinary medicine. Also, case reports will be considered as they add to information related to local disease and its control; such papers must be concise and represent appropriate medical intervention. Papers on veterinary parasitology from wildlife species are acceptable, but only if they relate to the practice of veterinary medicine. Studies on vector-borne bacterial and viral agents are suitable, but only if the paper deals with vector transmission of these organisms to domesticated animals. Studies dealing with parasite control by means of natural products, both in vivo and in vitro, are more suited for one of the many journals that now specialize in papers of this type. However, due to the regional nature of much of this research, submissions may be considered based upon a case being made by the author(s) to the Editor. Circumstances relating to animal experimentation must meet the International Guiding Principles for Biomedical Research Involving Animals as issued by the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences (obtainable from: Executive Secretary C.I.O.M.S., c/o W.H.O., Via Appia, CH-1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland).