Seroepidemiological survey of Neospora caninum infection in dairy goats from Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil

IF 1.6 Q3 PARASITOLOGY

Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports Pub Date : 2026-10-01 Epub Date: 2026-10-08 DOI:10.1016/j.vprsr.2026.101607

Igor Falco Arruda, Patricia Riddell Millar, Mario Felipe Alvarez Balaro, Fernanda da Silva Lopes, Caroline Martins da Costa, Lucas Almeida Zangirolami, Maria Regina Reis Amendoeira

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Neosporosis is a significant veterinary parasitosis caused by coccidian species Neospora caninum. Parasitism by N. caninum can lead to important reproductive changes, such as abortion, stillbirth, and neonatal death in domestic ruminants like goats. Considering the foregoing, the aims of the current study are to determine the seroprevalence of N. caninum infection in dairy goats bred in farms in Rio de Janeiro State, and to identify possible risk factors for these animals. Blood samples were collected from 460 dairy goats bred in dairy farms in Niterói, Nova Friburgo, Sapucaia, Tanguá, Valença and Vassouras cities, Rio de Janeiro State, between October 2020 and December 2022. Serum samples were subjected to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to investigate anti-N. caninum IgG antibodies based on using this protozoan's total soluble antigen. Producers answered a semi-structured questionnaire comprising data about epidemiological variables associated with the geographic features of their farm and with the zootechnical features of their herd, as well as with reproductive, nutritional and health management processes, and with milk production and offspring suckling, to assess risk factors for N. caninum infection. In total, 28% (129/460) of all assessed samples were seroreactive to IgG against N. caninum in ELISA test. Seropositivity frequency recorded for N. caninum ranged from 12.5% (25/200) to 81.1% (30/37) among the analyzed farms. The final logistic regression models have evidenced association between N. caninum seropositivity and sex, type of sheepfold floor, underweight offspring birth, veterinary care frequency and time spent suckling (p-value ≤ 0.05). Overall, high N. caninum infection seroprevalence in dairy goats bred in Rio de Janeiro State appears to be mainly determined by management practices. More specific prevention and control measures aimed at interrupting neosporosis epidemiological chain are extremely important to help reducing both economic and animal health impacts. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report N. caninum infection seroprevalence in goats bred in Rio de Janeiro State.

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巴西里约热内卢州奶山羊新孢子虫感染的血清流行病学调查

新孢子虫病是由球虫种犬新孢子虫引起的一种重要的兽医寄生虫病。犬奈瑟菌的寄生可导致重要的生殖变化，如山羊等家畜反刍动物的流产、死产和新生儿死亡。考虑到上述情况，本研究的目的是确定巴西里约热内卢州农场饲养的奶山羊中犬奈瑟菌感染的血清流行率，并确定这些动物可能的危险因素。在2020年10月至2022年12月期间，采集了巴西里约热内卢州Niterói、新弗里堡、萨普基亚、坦古、瓦伦帕拉塔和瓦苏拉斯市奶牛场饲养的460只奶山羊的血液样本。血清样品采用酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）检测抗n。利用该原虫的总可溶性抗原制备犬IgG抗体。生产者回答了一份半结构化问卷，其中包括与其农场的地理特征、畜群的动物技术特征、生殖、营养和健康管理过程以及产奶量和后代哺乳相关的流行病学变量的数据，以评估犬奈尔菌感染的风险因素。在所有评估样本中，28%（129/460）的ELISA检测血清IgG对犬奈瑟菌有反应。犬奈尔菌血清阳性率为12.5%(25/200)~ 81.1%（30/37）。最终的logistic回归模型证实了犬奈索菌血清阳性与性别、羊圈地板类型、体重过轻的后代出生、兽医护理频率和哺乳时间相关（p值≤0.05）。总体而言，巴西巴西州饲养的奶山羊血清中犬奈瑟菌感染的高流行率似乎主要由管理实践决定。旨在阻断新孢子病流行病学链的更具体的预防和控制措施对于帮助减少经济和动物健康影响极为重要。据我们所知，这是第一个报告巴西里约热内卢州饲养的山羊中犬奈瑟菌感染血清流行率的研究。

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).