First report of antibodies to Neospora caninum in Nigerian cattle

Neospora caninum is an apicomplexan protozoan parasite morphologically similar to Toxoplasma gondii but with the sexual reproductive stage occuring in dogs and wild canids [1]. Infections in cattle can cause significant economic losses due to abortions, birth of weak calves, fertility problems, reduced milk production, and increased culling [1,2]. Infections with N. caninum have been suggested as a major cause of reproductive failure in cattle in Europe and the USA [2] but there is limited information on their occurrence in Africa. Although there is serological evidence that the parasite occurs in Sub-Saharan Africa [3,4], it is not known if it is present in Nigeria where abortions and poor fertility are common [5].