Serological detection and epidemiology of Neospora caninum and Cryptosporidium parvum antibodies in cattle in southern Egypt

Frequency of Besnoitia besnoiti and Neospora caninum antibodies in cattle and small ruminants from greater Cairo and Beni Suef governorates, Egypt

Livestock industry is a pivotal sector for providing food, work places and monetary support for Egyptian people. Besnoitia besnoiti and Neospora caninum are protozoan parasites that are responsible for significant economic losses in ruminants, particularly in cattle. Besnoitia besnoiti can cause fertility problems and a general loss in productivity, while N. caninum is a major cause of abortion and neonatal abnormalities in infected animals. There is little information on the existence of these protozoa in Egypt, thus we conducted this study to reveal the current situation in cattle (n = 264), sheep (n = 151), and goats (n = 25). Serum samples were collected from governorates of Cairo, Giza, and Beni Suef, representing the most densely populated regions in Egypt. Using commercial ELISAs, an overall estimation among all tested animals (n = 440) revealed 7.7%, 13.2%, and 0.9% as seropositive rates for B. besnoiti, N. caninum, and mixed infection, respectively. Animal species (cattle vs sheep vs goat) and age of cattle (less than vs >1 year old) were analyzed as risk factors for infection. Regarding B. besnoiti, the seroprevalence was significantly higher in cattle than in sheep and goats and in adult cattle than calves. For N. caninum infection, no significant differences were recorded, although the seropositive rates were higher in cattle, and in adult cattle. This study provides the first seroprevalence data for B. besnoiti in all surveyed animals in the regions included, and in sheep and goats from Egypt, and supports the current knowledge for the occurrence of N. caninum in Egypt.

Serosurvey and associated risk factors for Neospora caninum infection in Egyptian water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

Neosporosis is a parasitic disease that causes reproductive disorders in animals, making it a barrier to maximum efficiency. The purpose of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of Neospora caninum (N. caninum) antibodies in water buffaloes from four governorates in northern Egypt. A commercial indirect-ELISA test was used to detect antibodies against N. caninum in the serum of 450 water buffaloes. The total seroprevalence of N. caninum in water buffaloes from Egypt was 31.3%, and the highest prevalence was observed in Gharbia governorate. The identified risk factors for N. caninum infections in water buffaloes were sex (OR = 1.96, 95%CI: 1.22-4.17), buffaloes more than 4 years of age ( OR = 5.80, 95%CI: 2.26-14.86), abortion in second trimester (OR = 16.48, 95%%CI: 2.99-34.03), history of abortion (OR = 3.45, 95%CI: 1.58-7.52) and contact with dogs (OR = 2.55, 95%CI: 1.51-4.32). Thus, more studies are needed to determine the role of buffaloes in the epidemiology of neosporosis in Egypt.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum and Trichinella spp. in Pigs from Cairo, Egypt

Pork production is a niche economy in Egypt, and pigs are typically raised as backyard animals with no sanitary control, potentially exposing them to various pathogens. Commercially available ELISAs were used to detect specific antibodies to the food-borne zoonotic parasites Toxoplasma gondii and Trichinella spp., as well as to Neospora caninum, in serum samples of pigs slaughtered at Egypt's only licensed pig abattoir, the El-Bassatin abattoir in Cairo. Among the tested sera (n = 332), seroreactivity for T. gondii was 45.8% (95% confidence interval: 40.4-51.3), N. caninum was 28.0% (95% CI: 23.3-33.2), and Trichinella spp. was 1.2% (95% CI: 0.4-3.3). Mixed infection was only detected for T. gondii and N. caninum (18.7%; 95% CI: 14.7-23.4). The seroprevalence of T. gondii was significantly higher (p = 0.0003) in animals collected from southern Cairo (15 May city slum) than in eastern Cairo (Ezbet El Nakhl slum). Seroprevalence for N. caninum was higher in western (Manshiyat Naser slum; p = 0.0003) and southern Cairo (15 May city slum; p = 0.0003) than in that of eastern Cairo (Ezbet El Nakhl slum; p = 0.0003). Moreover, female pigs exhibited a higher rate of N. caninum antibodies than male ones (p < 0.0001). This study provides the first seroprevalence data for N. caninum in pigs in Egypt, and updates the prevalence of the zoonotic parasites Trichinella spp. and T. gondii.

Serosurvey of selected reproductive pathogens in domestic ruminants from Upper Egypt

Toxoplasmosis, neosporosis, and Q fever are among the most important abortifacient diseases in ruminants worldwide. These diseases result in huge economic losses in livestock besides the fact that some of are of public health concern. The present study aimed to update the data about the current seroepidemiological situation of these diseases in Upper Egypt. A total of 411 blood samples were collected from small and large ruminants and serologically tested against the presence of T. gondii, N. caninum, and C. burnetii. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) models were performed to assess the potential risk factors associated with the exposure to these pathogens. The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii was 47.9% (197/411) with an individual seropositivity of 59.4% (63/106), 58.6% (17/29), 38.8% (54/139) and 46% (63/137) in cattle, buffalo, sheep and goats, respectively. Meanwhile, 9.7% (38/411) of the examined animals were tested positive for anti-N. caninum antibodies, with an individual seropositivity of 13.2% (12/106), 34.5% (10/29), 8.6% (12/139) and 2.9% (4/137) in cattle, buffalo, sheep and goats, respectively. Furthermore, the overall prevalence of antibodies against C. burnetii was 17.3% (63/411), and exposure to this pathogen was detected in 4.7% (5/106) of cattle, 19.3% (20/129) of sheep, 29.2% (38/130) of goats but none of the examined buffalo were found to be seropositive. A total of 12.1% (50/411) of the examined animals showed co-exposure to at least two of the tested pathogens. Regarding the potential risk factors, there were statistically significant differences among species in the frequency of exposure to the three tested pathogens. Age (> 6 months) was also shown to be a significant risk factor associated with T. gondii exposure. The results obtained provided updated information about the occurrence of three of the main reproductive pathogens in Upper Egypt. The high seropositivity values found for the tested zoonotic pathogens in most of the analyzed ruminant species suggest the necessity of performing additional in-depth studies to evaluate the epidemiology of these pathogens in the study area.

Seroprevalence of Neospora caninum antibodies in dogs, cows, and humans in Assiut province, Egypt: a pilot study

Neospora caninum is an intracellular coccidian parasite infecting a broad range of hosts globally. Despite the existence of several epidemiological studies on neosporosis, there is a limited knowledge regarding the prevalence of N. caninum infection among dogs, cows, and humans in Egypt. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted an epidemiological investigation in the Assiut province of Egypt to determine the seropositivity of N. caninum infection among cows, dogs, and pregnant women, as well as the associated risk factors. By employing an indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, we found specific N. caninum IgG antibodies in 6% (6 of 100) and 2.33% (1 of 43) of cows and dogs' sera, respectively. However, we are unable to detect antibodies in the 48 tested human sera. Moreover, no statistical significance was observed among the analyzed risk factors associated with seropositive cows and dogs. Our study highlights the presence of N. caninum in cows and dogs in the Assiut province, Egypt. Further, it underscores the need for improved comprehensive surveillance of N. caninum infection in a large population of cattle across various locations to obtain a better understanding of the economic burden associated with the disease.

Graphical abstract

The First Serological Detection and Risk Factors Analysis of Akabane Virus in Egyptian Cattle

Akabane virus (AKAV) is an insect-borne virus belonging to the genus Orthobunyavirus of the family Peribunyaviridae. It is the etiologic agent of Akabane disease (AD), which emerged in Asia, Australia, and the Middle East causing severe economic losses among domestic and wild animals. AKAV has not received enough attention in Egypt, and its evidence among Egyptian animals has never been reported. Therefore, this study used ELISA assay to investigate the seroprevalence of AKAV among Egyptian dairy and beef cattle in eight localities of Beheira province, north Egypt. Out of 368 investigated plasma samples, the overall AKAV seroprevalence was 54.3% (95% CI: 50.8-61.4). AKAV antibodies were detected in all examined cattle farms (7/7) and the majority of abattoirs (8/9). Age, sex, breed, and location of the tested cattle were analyzed as risk factors for AKAV infection. A higher significant increase in seropositivity was obtained in cattle who were aged >5 years (p < 0.0001; OR = 9.4), females (p < 0.0001, OR = 8.3), or Holstein breed (p < 0.0001, OR = 22.6) than in younger ages, males, and Mixed and Colombian zebu breeds, respectively. Moreover, a significant variation in AKAV seroprevalence between the tested locations was noticed. Ultimately, a multivariable analysis concluded that age (p = 0.002, OR = 3.32, 95% CI = 1.57-7.04) and breed (p = 0.03, OR = 1.69, 95% CI = 1.05-2.72) were significant risks for AKAV infection. In conclusion, this study is the first to detect AKAV infection in Egyptian animals.

Seroprevalence and associated risk factors of bovine neosporosis in the Khomas region of Namibia

Neospora caninum is a coccidian parasite that occurs worldwide and is one of the most important causes of abortion, especially in cattle. However, no studies have been performed in Namibia to determine the N. caninum status in livestock. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of N. caninum in cattle and the associated risk factors in the Khomas region of Namibia. A total of 736 sera were collected from cows in 32 farming establishments. These comprised 698 beef and 38 dairy cattle sera and were tested using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Questionnaires were concurrently administered to determine possible risk factors associated with N. caninum seropositivity. A total of 42 sera were positive (all beef), giving an animal-level seroprevalence rate of 5.7%. Eight of the 32 establishments had at least one positive animal, giving a herd-level seroprevalence of 25%. There was no significant association between seropositivity and the presence of dogs, jackals, history of abortions, farm size, number of cattle or average annual rainfall. The establishments with moderate to high numbers of Feliformia were 9.8 times more likely to be seropositive to N. caninum than those with none to low levels of the former (p = 0.0245). The authors concluded that the seroprevalence level of N. caninum in the Khomas region was relatively low compared with other parts of the world and that the role of Feliformia in the epidemiology of bovine neosporosis needed to be further investigated.Contribution: Serological evidence of bovine neosporosis and the associated risk factors are reported in Namibia for the first time. This study contributes to the scientific body of knowledge on N. caninum in Africa, which is currently limited.

Seroprevalence and risk factors analysis of Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii in cattle of Beheira, Egypt

Introduction

Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii are closely related obligate intracellular protozoan parasites. They are considered to be the major causes of infectious abortions and congenital abnormalities in livestock worldwide resulting in huge economic losses. Currently, there are no reports on the prevalence of neosporosis or toxoplasmosis in cattle in Beheira, Egypt's most important region for cattle industry.

Methods

The current study investigated the presence of anti-N. caninum and anti-T. gondii antibodies in apparent healthy cattle from eight localities representing the whole area of Beheira. A total of 358 plasma samples were randomly collected from 6 dairy and 10 beef farms and analyzed by commercially available ELISAs. Production type (dairy versus beef), sex (female vs male), age (< 3 years, 3-5, and > 5 years old), breed (mixed vs Holstein vs Colombian Zebu), and location (various locations) were assessed as risk factors for N. caninum and T. gondii infections.

Results and discussion

Of the samples, 88 (24.6%) and 19 (5.3%) were positive for anti-N. caninum and anti-T. gondii antibodies, respectively, and mixed infection was detected in 7. Of the 16 herds, 6 dairy and 7 beef herds were positive for antibodies to N. caninum. Antibodies to T. gondii were detected in 4, and 5 of dairy and beef herds, respectively. Production type (dairy) and, therewith, sex (female), age (aged over 5 years), and location were considered as risk factors for N. caninum infection. No factors statistically associated with T. gondii infection were identified. Overall, this study provided the first serological detection of N. caninum and T. gondii infections in cattle from Beheira, demonstrating the endemicity of both parasites in the main cattle rearing region of Egypt. This study also confirmed earlier reports of N. caninum being more present in dairy cattle than in beef cattle. Routine monitoring of N. caninum and T. gondii infections and the implementation of control strategies are urgently needed.

Diagnosis and control of cryptosporidiosis in farm animals

Cryptosporidium is a pathogenic protozoan parasite infecting the gastrointestinal epithelium of human and animal hosts. In farm animals, cryptosporidiosis causes significant economic losses including deaths in newborn animals, retarded growth, increased labor involved and high cost of drugs. The detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts in fecal samples is traditionally dependent on examination of stained slides by light microscope or by advanced microscopical tools such as: electron microscopy and phase contrast microscopy. Immunological diagnosis using either antibody or antigen detection could offer high sensitivity and specificity. Examples for these tests are Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), Immunochromatographic tests, Immunochromatographic lateral flow (ICLF), Immunofluorescence assays (IFA) and Flow cytometry coupled with cell sorting. Molecular methods could differentiate species and genotypes of Cryptosporidium and help in studying the epidemiological features of this parasite with rapid, simple and sensitive procedures. Nanotechnology-based platforms could improve the sensitivity and specificity of other detection methods like: ELISA, ICLF, IFA and polymerase chain reaction. As the available prophylactic and therapeutic drugs or natural products treatments are insufficient and no approved vaccines are available, the best approach to control this parasite is by following firm hygienic measures. Many vaccine attempts were performed using hyperimmune colostrum, live or attenuated vaccines, recombinant and Deoxyribonucleic acid vaccines. Also, Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats/Cas9 technology could help in Cryptosporidium genome editing to improve drug and vaccine discovery. Another approach that could be useful for assigning drug targets is metabolomics. Probiotics were also used successfully in the treatment of acute diarrhea and they proved a limiting effect on cryptosporidiosis in animal models. In addition, nanotherapy-based approaches could provide a good strategy for improving the potency of any type of drugs against Cryptosporidium and give good anti-cryptosporidial effects. In conclusion, accurate diagnosis using advanced techniques is the key to the control and prevention of cryptosporidiosis.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in camels recently imported to Egypt from Sudan and a global systematic review

INTRODUCTION

Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are closely related intracellular protozoan parasites of medical and veterinary concern by causing abortions and systemic illness. Limited or ambiguous data on the prevalence of T. gondii and N. caninum in camels triggered us to conduct this study.

METHODS

Camels (n = 460) recently imported from Sudan and destined mainly for human consumption, were tested for specific antibodies against these protozoans using commercially available ELISAs. From the two only quarantine stations for camels from Sudan, 368 camels were sampled between November 2015 and March 2016 in Shalateen, Red Sea governorate, and 92 samples were collected between September 2018 and March 2021 from Abu Simbel, Aswan governorate.

RESULTS & DISCUSSION

Overall, seropositive rates in camels were 25.7%, 3.9% and 0.8% for T. gondii, N. caninum and mixed infection, respectively. However, marked differences were found between the two study sites and/or the two sampling periods: For T. gondii, a higher rate of infection was recorded in the Red Sea samples (31.5%, 116/368; odds ratio 20.7, 5.0-85.6; P<0.0001) than in those collected in Aswan (2.2%, 2/92). The opposite was found for N. caninum with a lower rate of infection in the Red Sea samples (0.82%, 3/368; odds ratio 23.7, 6.7-83.9; P<0.0001) than in the samples from Aswan (16.3%, 15/92). Additionally, our systematic review revealed that the overall published seroprevalence of T. gondii and N. caninum was 28.6% and 14.3% in camels worldwide, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the first record of seroprevalence of both T. gondii and N. caninum in recently imported camels kept under quarantine conditions before delivery to other Egyptian cities and regions. In addition, our review provides inclusive data on the prevalence of T. gondii and N. caninum in camel globally. This knowledge provides basic data for the implementation of strategies and control measures against neosporosis and toxoplasmosis.

Prevalence of Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies and DNA in Raw Milk of Various Ruminants in Egypt

The prevalence of Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in raw milk samples was estimated in different ruminants and Egyptian governorates. Of 13 bulk milk samples tested by ELISA, five (38.5%) were positive for antibodies to N. caninum, and two samples were additionally positive for antibodies to T. gondii, resulting in a seroprevalence of 15.4% for both T. gondii and co-infection. In individual milk samples (n = 171) from the same bulks, antibodies to N. caninum were detected in 25.7%, to T. gondii in 14%, and 3.5% had antibodies to both parasites. A strong correlation between the OD values of the bulk samples and of the relevant individual milk samples was found for T. gondii (Pearson r = 0.9759) and moderately strong for N. caninum (Pearson r = 0.5801). Risk factor assessment for individual milk samples revealed that antibodies to T. gondii were significantly influenced by animal species, while no risk factors were detected for N. caninum antibodies. Additionally, DNA of N. caninum was detected in a bulk milk sample of cattle for the first time in Egypt, and DNA of T. gondii was found in bulk milk samples of cattle, sheep and goats. This is the first study in Egypt in which bulk milk samples of different ruminants were tested for the presence of N. caninum and T. gondii antibodies and DNA. Both individual and bulk milk samples are useful tools for monitoring antibody response to N. caninum and T. gondii infections in different ruminants in Egypt.

Seroepidemiology of Neospora caninum in Cattle of Pastoral Production System in Teltelle District of Borana Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Background

Neosporosis is a major cause of abortion in smallholder dairy farms in Ethiopia. However, its status and impact in pastoral cattle production settings were uncovered. This study was performed with the aims of estimating the seroprevalence and associated potential risk factors for Neospora caninum in Boran cattle in Teltelle district of Borana zone, Ethiopia.

Methods

180 blood samples were collected from 48 randomly selected pastoral herds using a multistage sampling technique and subjected to an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test to detect antibodies specific to N. caninum. A questionnaire survey was also used to identify the potential risk factors of N. caninum in the study area. Evaluation of the associated risk factors was conducted using a multivariable logistic regression model.

Results

Antibodies against N. caninum exposure were detected in 5% of cattle (95% CI: 1.816–8.184) from 180 animals tested. Similarly, the seroprevalence of N. caninum in herds with at least one positive animal was 14.6% (95% CI: 4.598–24.567) from 48 herds examined. A multivariable logistic regression model identified the following as significant risk factors: a history of abortion (AOR = 23; 95% CI: 2.354–188.702; P = 0.006), dystocia (AOR = 11; 95% CI = 22.275–55.860; P = 0.003), wells water sources (AOR = 9; 95% CI: 1.599–47.568; P = 0.012), and dogs fed with raw animal products (AOR = 6; 95% CI: 11.213–27.222; P = 0.028).

Conclusion

This study revealed the first serological evidence of N. caninum exposure in cattle reared under pastoral production system. Our findings suggest N. caninum is likely to be an important cause of abortion and dystocia in cattle in Ethiopia. Management practices, such as provision of hygienic water and restriction of dogs fed with raw animal products, are likely to reduce the risk of infection. Thus, maximizing community awareness about these disease management practices is suggested.

The first study on seroprevalence and risk factors of Neospora caninum infection in pregnant local cows from Northeast Algeria

Background and Aim:

Neospora caninum is one of the most common infectious organisms worldwide that causes abortion in cattle. To the best of our knowledge, no previous studies have focused on N. caninum infection in the local Atlas brown cattle from Northeast Algeria. This study aimed to assess the importance of bovine neosporosis for causing abortion in Atlas brown cattle and to identify selected risk factors.

Materials and Methods:

A case-control study was performed on 60 control farms and 30 case farms. We collected 650 blood samples from 650 pregnant cows from 90 farms in five Algerian provinces; Jijel, Skikda, Annaba, El-Tarf, and Souk-Ahras. Sera samples were analyzed for the presence of antibodies against N. caninum using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

Results:

The seroprevalence of N. caninum infection in the cows was 36.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 32.7-39.8) and in the farms was 81.1% (95% CI: 73.0-89.2). Risk factors found by multivariable logistic regression included: Presence of dogs (odds ratio [OR] 4.7, 95 CI 2.9-7.3); age ≥84 months (OR 4.9, 95 CI 2.8-8.3); Jijel region (OR 2.2, 95 CI 1.1-4.5); white (OR 2.5, 95 CI 1.4-4.4) and gray (OR 2.5, 95 CI 1.4-4.5) coat; moderate (OR 2.30, 95 CI 1.4-3.8) and bad (OR 3.1, 95 CI 1.8-5.3) hygiene; and second (OR 2.5, 95 CI 1.4-4.4); and last (OR 2.3, 95 CI 1.3-4.2) stage of pregnancy. Our case-control study showed no significant association between seropositivity of N. caninum and abortion at the farms level (OR 0.9, 95 CI 0.3-2.7). Similarly, there was no significant association between seropositivity of N. caninum and abortion at the individual level (OR 0.8, 95 CI 0.6-1.2).

Conclusion:

This is the first study of N. caninum infection in pregnant local cows from Northeast Algeria. The prevalence rate of antibodies against N. caninum was high. Almost all risk factors studied for infection were significantly associated with seroprevalence. Our analysis showed no relation between N. caninum infection and abortion. Consequently, these local cows are resistant to abortion caused by N. caninum.

Seroprevalence of Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii IgG and IgM antibodies among buffaloes and cattle from Menoufia Province, Egypt

The main reasons behind performing the current study were the high distribution of the water buffaloes Bubalus bubalis and cattle in Menoufia province, the veterinary importance of Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii and the limited information on the seropositivity of these parasites in Menoufia province, Egypt. Therefore, the current study was conducted to estimate the distribution of anti-N. caninum and anti-T. gondii antibodies (IgM and IgG) in water buffaloes and cattle from Menoufia province. ELISA methods based on the surface antigen 1 of N. caninum (NcSAG1t) and the surface antigen 2 of T. gondii (TgSAG2t) were utilized to detect both specific IgM and IgG for these parasites. The overall seroprevalence of N. caninum and T. gondii in cattle of Menoufia Province were (12.21% and 1.91% for IgM) and (14.89% and 3.05% for IgG), respectively. In water buffaloes, seroprevalences of N. caninum and T. gondii were (6.97% and 9.02% for IgM) and (13.52% and 8.2% for IgG), respectively. The mixed infection rate was 1.5% in cattle and 4.92% in buffaloes. No significant differences were detected regarding age or gender. Statistically significant changes in the prevalence of both parasites were demonstrated in relation to a period of the year. In conclusion, seroprevalence of neosporosis was more than toxoplasmosis in cattle and buffaloes in Menoufia Province, Egypt.

Recombinant Expression And Indirect ELISA For COWP And HSP70 Proteins From Cryptosporidium andersoni

Cryptosporidium spp. infect cattle at a high rates, and reduce milk production. Cryptosporidiosis has caused economic losses for the dairy industry. Studies in Western countries have shown that Cryptosporidium can also infect humans. Therefore, the development of methods for the early detection of Cryptosporidium is an important public health objective. Total RNA isolated from C. andersoni was used as template for generating cDNA encoding the COWP and HSP70 proteins. The recombinant plasmid, pET-32a(+)-COWP-HSP70, was constructed by double digestion and subcloning. The expression of the three recombinant proteins was induced in Escherichia coli BL21 using isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactopyranoside. The antigenicity of the recombinant proteins was examined using western blotting and indirect ELISA. The identities of the COWP fusion protein (CFP), HSP70 fusion protein (HFP), and COWP-HSP70 fusion protein (CHFP) were confirmed by BLAST searches of known sequences in GenBank respectively. The ELISA and western blot analyses indicated that all three of the proteins were highly immunogenic and antigenic. An indirect ELISA method was developed using the three recombinant proteins as coating antigens for the analysis of 40 clinical samples. The results showed that CHFP was the best candidate antigen for clinical testing, with a detection rate of 100%, compared with general parasitological screening. Above of all, the recombinant CHFP protein represents the best candidate antigen among three ones for detecting anti-Cryptosporidium antibodies in clinical samples. The development of the indirect ELISA lays the foundation for further research in immunodiagnosis and disease prevention of cryptosporidiosis.

Neosporosis among Egyptian camels and its associated risk factors

Neospora caninum is an obligate intercellular protozoan parasite and considered one of the abortive pathogens in a wide range of ruminants. The present study aimed to investigate the antibodies against N. caninum in camels from three governorates in Egypt to understand the epidemiology of neosporosis and its associated abortion. The study was carried out on 282 camels using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. The obtained results confirmed the presence of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in 31 out of 282 camels. Moreover, no significant difference in seroprevalence was observed between different localities under the study and between males and females. On contrary, the number of seropositive camels was increased significantly in adult camels of 8-11 years old (OR = 9.1, 95% CI: 1.1-73.1), during the autumn (OR = 2.3, 95% CI: 0.79-7.1) and mainly in females with history of abortion (OR = 2.8, 95% CI: 1.2-6.5) or in camels raised with dogs (OR = 2.8, 95% CI: 1.1-7.08). The presence of antibodies against N. caninum in camels from Egypt increases the demand for further studies to determine its epidemiological role as a cause of abortion and reduce its economic impacts on camel's industry.

Urological detection of specific antibodies against Neospora caninum infection in mice: A prospect for novel diagnostic approach of Neospora

The intracellular protozoan parasite Neospora caninum is incriminated to induce drastic economic losses in both livestock and pet animal industries. Neosporosis is primarily characterized by abortion in cattle and paralytic symptoms in dogs. Because there are no effective treatments or vaccines, diagnosis is critical for Neospora control. Thus, diversification of laboratory tests and specimens used for diagnosis of N. caninum is an essential scientific endeavor to judge and select the most appropriate diagnostic tool. Herein, we provide the first evidence for the utility of urine samples for demonstration of specific antibodies against N. caninum employing an experimentally infected murine model. Specific antibodies to recombinant N. caninum dense granule 7, surface antigen 1, and lysate antigen were assayed using different antibodies-based ELISAs. Urine based IgG ELISA efficiently discriminated between infected mice (acute or chronic infection), and those of non-infected mice. This effect was also noticed for IgG1 and IgG2a suggesting the utility of urine for assessment of T-helper 2- and T-helper 1-mediated immunities, respectively. In addition, reactivity of specific antibody in urine was also confirmed against parasites when indirect fluorescent antibody test was employed. Usefulness of urine as an additional clinical sample for Neospora diagnosis was confirmed via comparison with the relevant control non-infected and infected mouse sera as reference samples. Because of minimum invasiveness and ease of urine collection, this approach might offer new diagnostic opportunities for N. caninum either for the field or research purposes. However, further studies are required to extrapolate this preliminary study and results in the animal species of interest particularly in dogs.

Meta-analysis of the prevalence and risk factors associated with bovine neosporosis

Neospora caninum is one of the main infectious agents that cause reproductive disorders in cattle. However, knowledge about the prevalence and causal factors of bovine neosporosis is needed in order to establish control measures. The purpose of this study was to estimate the pooled prevalence and determine the risk factors of bovine neosporosis using meta-analytic methods. Searches for data on N. caninum seroprevalence and potential risk factors were conducted in the PubMed, LILACS, and SciElo databases. The random effects model was used for the meta-analysis of the included studies. The pooled prevalence of N. caninum in cattle was 24% (95% confidence interval (CI), 19-29) in North and Central America, 24% (95% CI, 20-28) in South America, 18% (95% CI, 14-21) in Asia, 15% (95% CI, 12-18) in Europe, 13% (95% CI, 11-16) in Africa, and 8% (95% CI, 4-14) in Oceania. A significant correlation was found between N. caninum infection and abortion in cows (odds ratio (OR) = 2.66, 95% CI, 1.97-3.59). The following risk factors were signicantly associated with N. caninum seroprevalence: presence of dogs on the farm (OR = 2.84; 95% CI, 1.40-5.80) and the type of cattle production system, with dairy cattle being more susceptible to bovine neosporosis (OR = 1.60; 95% CI, 1.16-2.19) than beef cattle. The adoption of measures to prevent the dissemination of N. caninum in cattle herds is suggested, aiming to reduce the economic losses incurred to the dairy and beef industry.

Prevalence of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora spp. in equids of Western Pará, Brazil

The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora spp. in equids raised for distinct purposes in the western state of Pará, Brazil, and to identify potential risk factors associated with parasite infection. A cross-sectional study was conducted with cluster sampling in 101 farms from 18 municipalities (farm horses). In visited municipalities, samples from sport and cart horses were included. Serum was obtained for detecting antibodies against T. gondii and Neospora spp. using indirect fluorescent antibody test, with a cut-off point of 1:64 and 1:50, respectively. Association analysis, using the chi-square test, was performed to evaluate possible risk factors related to the prevalence of antibodies. A total of 1298 equids were sampled (947 farm, 240 sport, and 111 cart horses), including 1244 horses, 2 donkeys, and 52 mules. The number of equids sampled per property ranged from 1 to 49. Of the total examined, 134 (10.3%) had antibodies against T. gondii, and of the 18 municipalities visited, 11 (61%) had at least one positive animal. Seventy-three of the 1298 equids (5.62%) from 44% of the municipalities tested positive for Neospora spp. The type of the animal (farm, sport, or carthorse) was not associated with the prevalence of antibodies against T. gondii; however, antibodies against Neospora spp. was more prevalent in carthorses (P = 0.001) (13.5%) than in farm (5.0%) and sport (4.6%) horses. Breed of the horse and the presence of cats were risk factors for the prevalence of antibodies against T. gondii, and presence of dogs was a risk factor for the prevalence of antibodies against Neospora spp. This is the first report of seropositive equids for T. gondii and Neospora spp. in the state of Pará contributing to the knowledge on epidemiology of the two parasites.

Development of CpGP15 recombinant antigen of Cryptosporidium parvum for detection of the specific antibodies in cattle

The infection of neonatal calves with Cryptosporidium parvum can have a huge economic impact because diarrhea caused by the parasite sometimes results in death. A serodiagnostic system will be helpful in the diagnosis of C. parvum infection. CpP23 is commonly used as an antigen for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); however, some positive sera show low reactivities, as shown in this study. Herein, we focused on three other antigens, CpGP15, CpP2 and CpGP60, in addition to CpP23, to detect C. parvum-specific antibodies in cattle sera. CpP23 and CpGP15 showed substantial ability to discriminate between positive (n = 10) and negative (n = 10) control cattle sera. Unlike our previous report, both the sensitivity and the specificity were 100% when the two antigens were employed for the ELISA. The newly developed ELISA was applied to a total of 344 sera obtained from 9 cattle farms. Two farms among them had suffered from C. parvum infections before, and were regarded as the C. parvum-positive farms. The positive rates of antibodies against CpP23 and CpGP15 in the C. parvum-positive farms were 42.7% and 49.8%, respectively, whereas the positive rate for either of the antigens was 63.0% in the farms. In contrast, 14.3% and 9.8% were positive for CpP23 and CpGP15 in the C. parvum-negative farms, respectively, whereas 18.8% was positive for either of the antigens. This study revealed that the ELISAs employing both of CpP23 and CpGP15 can avoid false-negative results and are useful for monitoring of the C. parvum infection in cattle farms.

Development and evaluation of the first immunochromatographic test that can detect specific antibodies against Cryptosporidium parvum

Cryptosporidium parvum is a major cause of diarrhea among human and calves, resulting in severe health hazards and drastic economic losses, respectively. Although C. parvum infection leads to high morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients and bovine calves, this infection remains a neglected disease. Currently available diagnostic tests for C. parvum are primarily based on detection of oocysts, DNA, or secreted antigens in fecal specimens. Demonstration of specific antibodies with a rapid immunochromatographic test (ICT) will be advantageous not only in providing a simple, rapid, accurate, and affordable tool but also in surveillance because of the ability to recognize recent and past infections. Herein, we developed two ICTs using the diagnostic antigen CpP23 and immunodominant antigen CpGP15 to detect C. parvum-specific antibodies in cattle sera. Because of unavailability of a reference test for antibody detection, evaluation and validation of our developed ICTs were conducted using reference cattle samples and unknown field cattle sera. Serum samples were simultaneously tested by a previously validated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using the same antigens (CpGP15 and CpP23). ICTs showed substantial ability to discriminate between positive and negative control cattle sera for both CpGP15 and CpP23. Even against field sera, high sensitivity, specificity, and agreement rates were recorded for ICTs compared with the previously validated ELISA with the same antigens (CpGP15 = 78.78%, 100%, and 85.11%; CpP23 = 80%, 100%, and 80.56%, respectively). Moreover, a high correlation was observed between the test band intensity of ICTs and optical density of ELISA, particularly in the case of CpP23-specific IgM. To our knowledge, this study represents the first development of ICTs that can detect C. parvum-specific antibodies. Our tests will contribute greatly to C. parvum infection control in cattle by providing a method for on-site diagnosis of early and latent infections.

Seroprevalence of Cryptosporidium parvum and Neospora caninum in cattle in the southern Kyushu region of Japan

Cryptosporidium parvum and Neospora caninum are common parasites in domesticated cattle worldwide, including in Japan. We carried out a serological survey to detect C. parvum and N. caninum infection among cattle in the southern Kyushu region of Japan-including the small islands-by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based on recombinant antigens. We found that total seropositivity in 570 Japanese black cattle was 96.3% for C. parvum and 18.4% for N. caninum. Although seroprevalence was correlated with cattle age, differences in the seroprevalence of C. parvum among age groups were not statistically significant. On the other hand, N. caninum seroprevalence increased with age, suggesting horizontal transmission through ingestion of food or water contaminated with oocysts. These findings underscore the importance of monitoring C. parvum and N. caninum in cattle and implementing measures to prevent the spread of infection to other livestock and to humans.

Identification of the antigenic region of Neospora caninum dense granule protein 7 using ELISA

Dense granule protein 7 (NcGRA7) is a potent diagnostic antigen of Neospora caninum. Some studies have reported on the difficult expression, low yield, and variable degree of solubility of recombinant NcGRA7. We aimed to unravel the possible causes for these issues and tested NcGRA7 antigenicity in enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). The NcGRA7 coding sequence (217 amino acids) was split into five amino acid regions: NcGRA7m (27-217), NcGRA7m3 (27-160), NcGRA7m4 (27-135), NcGRA7m5 (161-190), and NcGRA7m6 (188-217). Three fragments, NcGRA7m, NcGRA7m3 and NcGRA7m4, exhibited high antigenic properties when tested against experimentally-infected mice and dog sera by ELISA. High levels of IgG2 antibodies against NcGRA7m3 were observed in field dog sera. In experimentally and naturally-infected cattle, the N. caninum-specific sera only reacted with NcGRA7m, indicating that this antigenic region differs among the three animal species. This study presents valuable information about the antigenic properties and topology of NcGRA7, and highlights its suitability for diagnostic purposes.

A Comprehensive Review of Common Bacterial, Parasitic and Viral Zoonoses at the Human-Animal Interface in Egypt

Egypt has a unique geographical location connecting the three old-world continents Africa, Asia and Europe. It is the country with the highest population density in the Middle East, Northern Africa and the Mediterranean basin. This review summarizes the prevalence, reservoirs, sources of human infection and control regimes of common bacterial, parasitic and viral zoonoses in animals and humans in Egypt. There is a gap of knowledge conerning the epidemiology of zoonotic diseases at the human-animal interface in different localities in Egypt. Some zoonotic agents are “exotic” for Egypt (e.g., MERS-CoV and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus), others are endemic (e.g., Brucellosis, Schistosomiasis and Avian influenza). Transboundary transmission of emerging pathogens from and to Egypt occurred via different routes, mainly importation/exportation of apparently healthy animals or migratory birds. Control of the infectious agents and multidrug resistant bacteria in the veterinary sector is on the frontline for infection control in humans. The implementation of control programs significantly decreased the prevalence of some zoonoses, such as schistosomiasis and fascioliasis, in some localities within the country. Sustainable awareness, education and training targeting groups at high risk (veterinarians, farmers, abattoir workers, nurses, etc.) are important to lessen the burden of zoonotic diseases among Egyptians. There is an urgent need for collaborative surveillance and intervention plans for the control of these diseases in Egypt.