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First Confirmed Case of Neospora caninum ‐associated Abortion Outbreak in Portugal
Author(s) -
Thompson G,
Canada N,
Topa M do Carmo,
Silva E,
Vaz F,
Rocha A
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
reproduction in domestic animals
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.546
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1439-0531
pISSN - 0936-6768
DOI - 10.1046/j.1439-0531.2001.00307.x
Subject(s) - neospora caninum , abortion , outbreak , neospora , herd , coccidiosis , medicine , biology , obstetrics , pregnancy , virology , veterinary medicine , antibody , immunology , toxoplasma gondii , genetics
In a dairy herd experiencing an abortion outbreak, 49% of the 119 cows were positive for Neospora caninum antibodies and the remaining 51% were seronegative. Using immunohistochemical analysis of foetal brain tissue, Neospora cysts and bradyzoite clusters were identified in two of the 15 aborted foetuses submitted for testing. Other agents that commonly cause abortions were not found. These results, coupled with neurological clinical symptoms in new‐born calves, implicated N. caninum as the major cause of abortions in this dairy herd. This is the first report that associates N. caninum infection with bovine abortions in Portugal.