SEROLOGICAL SCREENING FOR Neospora caninum INFECTION IN A DAIRY CATTLE FARM WITH REPRODUCTIVE DISORDERS, IN SOUTH-EASTERN ROMANIA

Abstract

Neospora caninum is an apicomplexan protozoa parasite that causes reproductive disorders in cattle worldwide. Despite the high seroprevalence reported in Romania, there are limited data on N. caninum infection in dairy cattle, and no studies have evaluated the presence of infection over time in a limited area. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the seroprevalence of N. caninum in a dairy cattle farm in Southeastern Romania where a previously study reported about the cattle exposure to N. caninum infection. A total of 85 cattle, assigned in four groups, according to the reproductive status (repeated breeding syndrome, history of abortion, pregnant cows, and fresh cows) were tested for the presence of N. caninum antibodies, using an indirect ELISA test. The overall seroprevalence was 28.23% (95% CI: 18.67–37.80). According to the reproductive groups, the seroprevalence varied between 19.04% (95% CI: 2.25-35.84) in fresh cows to 38.09% (95% CI: 17.32 - 58.87) in cows with repeated breeding syndrome. By these findings new information is provided about the disease's presence in the studied farm, implying that infection with N. caninum may be the primary cause of reported reproductive disorders, as well as about the infection's persistent nature.