Presencia de Neospora caninum en perros y bovinos que conviven en ganaderías de la parroquia Turi

Abstract

Neosporosis is a disease caused by Neospora caninum, an intracellular protozoan parasite that leads to neuromuscular disorders in canines and reproductive failures in cattle, resulting in significant economic losses. Nevertheless, despite its great impact and wide distribution within the country, its presence in the parish of Turi remains unknown. Therefore, the present research was conducted with the aim of determining the presence of antibodies against Neospora caninum in dogs and cattle cohabiting on farms in this parish, using a competitive ELISA test. In addition, it sought to establish the association between dog–cattle cohabitation and seropositivity to neosporosis. For this purpose, 168 blood samples were collected, of which 84 corresponded to reproductively active cows and 84 to adult dogs. Among the samples analyzed, 69.04% (58/84) of cattle tested seropositive for the protozoan, while 26.19% (22/84) of dogs were seropositive. Furthermore, of all livestock farms where dogs and cattle cohabit, 13.09% showed the presence of antibodies to Neospora caninum. Results from the statistical association tests (chi-square and Cramer’s V) show that there was an association between seropositivity to Neospora caninum in canines and seropositivity in cattle within the same production unit.