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Villa L, Allievi C, Di Cerbo AR, Zanzani SA, Sommariva F, Zanini L, Mortarino M, Manfredi MT. Neospora caninum antibodies in bulk tank milk from dairy cattle herds in Italy in relation to reproductive and productive parameters and spatial analysis. Acta Trop 2024; 254:107194. [PMID: 38521123 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Among the available diagnostic techniques, antibody detection in bulk tank milk (BTM) represents a useful tool to estimate and monitor Neospora caninum herd prevalence. To evaluate the prevalence of N. caninum and the effect of parasite infection on herd performances, BTM samples collected from 586 dairy herds located in one of the largest dairy production areas in Italy (Lombardy) were analyzed by an indirect ELISA to detect anti-N. caninum specific antibodies. Generalized linear models (GLMs) were developed. A purely spatial analysis scanning for clusters with high or low rates for N. caninum using the Bernoulli model was performed. A maximum entropy approach was used to estimate the probability of distribution of the parasite based on occurrence records together with environmental variables. Overall, 180 herds resulted positive for N. caninum antibodies on bulk tank milk (P = 30.7 %). A higher risk of seropositivity was evidenced in the provinces of Milano, Cremona, Brescia, and Bergamo (P = 32-40 %); a lower risk was evidenced in Lodi, Pavia, and Mantova (P = 13-24 %). A higher risk of seropositivity was revealed for small-medium farms (101-300 animals) (O.R.=2.8) and for older animals with more than 4 years (O.R.=4.4). Regarding the effect of N. caninum infection on herd performances, the number of inseminations for conception was higher (> 3 inseminations), and the period from calving to conception was longer (> 150 days) for positive farms (O.R.=2.0 and O.R.=2.3, respectively); besides, lower head daily milk production (<20 kg and 21-25 kg) and mature equivalent milk yield (<11,000), and somatic cell counts higher than 300,000 cells/ml were observed for N. caninum positive herds (O.R.=0.4, O.R.=0.4 and O.R.=1.9 respectively). The geographical distribution of N. caninum positive farms with the highest level of probability covers the central sector of the Po Plain where a significant cluster for high risk of parasite infection was shown by spatial scan statistic and Maximum entropy ecological niche modelling. A further significant cluster of low risk occurred in the southern. The climatic and environmental variables with the highest training gain when used in isolation resulted altitude, land use/land cover, and other variables related to temperature and precipitation. Neosporosis is widely distributed in Italian dairy herds and an impact of the parasite on herd performances could be hypothesized. Even if the role of N. caninum in alterations of reproductive and productive parameters should be further explored, veterinarians and farmers should be aware of neosporosis, and control plans should be adopted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Villa
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell'Università, 6, Lodi 26900, Italy
| | - Carolina Allievi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell'Università, 6, Lodi 26900, Italy
| | - Anna Rita Di Cerbo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell'Università, 6, Lodi 26900, Italy
| | - Sergio Aurelio Zanzani
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell'Università, 6, Lodi 26900, Italy
| | - Flavio Sommariva
- Associazione Regionale Allevatori della Lombardia, Via Kennedy, 30, Crema 26013, Italy
| | - Lucio Zanini
- Associazione Regionale Allevatori della Lombardia, Via Kennedy, 30, Crema 26013, Italy
| | - Michele Mortarino
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell'Università, 6, Lodi 26900, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Manfredi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell'Università, 6, Lodi 26900, Italy.
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Gharekhani J, Rafaat Mohammed R, Heidari R, Hajipour N, Trotta M, Villanueva-Saz S. Assessment of Neospora caninum infection in bulls using serological and molecular techniques. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2023; 46:100940. [PMID: 37935541 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2023.100940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
Neospora caninum is a significant cause of abortion and economic losses in cattle worldwide. The main aim of the present work was to detect the prevalence of N. caninum infection in bulls in Hamedan (Iran) using serology and molecular techniques. All blood samples (n = 792) were screened for detecting the antibodies to N. caninum using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Then seropositive animals were rechecked using the immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Also, blood, epididymis, and spinal cord samples were collected from animals for molecular analysis using nested PCR. In serology, using ELISA, 3.91% of animals were seropositive for N. caninum. Additionally, true prevalence based on the sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA was calculated 1.25% (95% CI: 0.48-2.02%). Neospora-infection in animals, calculated as the number of bulls seropositive and/or one sample positive to nested PCR, was 3.40%; and 19 bulls tested positive by both serology and molecular diagnostic methods. The overlaps between ELISA and molecular results were observed in 74.19% of whole blood samples, 80.64% of the epididymis, and 87.09% of the spinal cord. Using ELISA, the seroprevalence of N. caninum was detected 1.8% in ≤2 and 5.45% in >2 years old group of animals (p = 0.009, PR = 3.1). In addition, the seropositivity in Holstein and native breed animals was calculated 6.57% and 2.93%, respectively (p = 0.019, PR = 2.3). Seven sequences with 94.9-99.3% similarity were detected in multiple alignments of positive PCR products. Our work was the first comprehensive evaluation of Neospora-infection/neosporosis in Iranian bulls. We detected a low prevalence of infection in animals compared to previous reports. The ELISA is a sensitive serological technique for detecting the highest number of positive bulls in the present investigation and, the nested PCR is a reliable technique to identify Neospora-DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamal Gharekhani
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Central Veterinary Laboratory, Iranian Veterinary Organization, Hamedan, Iran.
| | - Rebin Rafaat Mohammed
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran; Director of the Central Clinical Laboratory of Sulaimani, Iraq
| | - Reza Heidari
- Medical Biotechnology Research Center, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Research Center for Cancer Screening and Epidemiology, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nasser Hajipour
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Michele Trotta
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Sergio Villanueva-Saz
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain; Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain; Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Zaragoza, Spain
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Villa L, Allievi C, Gazzonis AL, Ventura G, Gradassi M, Zanzani SA, Manfredi MT. Serological Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, and Sarcoptes scabiei var. suis in Wild Boars ( Sus scrofa) Hunted in a Highly Anthropized Area in Italy. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:1730. [PMID: 37889677 PMCID: PMC10251892 DOI: 10.3390/ani13111730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to the increasing expansion into urban and rural areas, wild boars represent a potential source of infection with zoonotic and animal-specific parasites for both humans and animals. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the serological prevalence to Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, and Sarcoptes scabiei var. suis in blood samples from wild boars (Sus scrofa) hunted in an anthropized area in Italy. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests were used to detect antibodies anti-T. gondii and anti-S. scabiei and an immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) for antibodies anti-N. caninum. 81 out of 128 wild boars (P = 63.3%) resulted positive for at least one of the three parasites. 68 of them were seropositive to T. gondii (P = 53.1%) and 14 to N. caninum (P = 10.9%). 9 wild boars resulted seropositive to S. scabiei var. suis (P = 7.0%). Sampling season was the only significant risk factor related to S. scabiei var. suis seroprevalence (OR = 7.8). The high occurrence of T. gondii supports the role of this species as a source of infection for other animals and humans. Furthermore, the serological prevalence of N. caninum and S. scabiei var. suis in wild boars from the study area characterized by the presence of numerous dairy cattle and pig farms is relevant to demonstrate its suitability for the circulation of these parasites both in domestic and wild species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Villa
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (C.A.); (A.L.G.); (S.A.Z.)
| | - Carolina Allievi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (C.A.); (A.L.G.); (S.A.Z.)
| | - Alessia Libera Gazzonis
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (C.A.); (A.L.G.); (S.A.Z.)
| | - Giordano Ventura
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia-Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, Via Cardinal Massaia 7, 26100 Cremona, Italy; (G.V.); (M.G.)
| | - Matteo Gradassi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia-Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, Via Cardinal Massaia 7, 26100 Cremona, Italy; (G.V.); (M.G.)
| | - Sergio Aurelio Zanzani
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (C.A.); (A.L.G.); (S.A.Z.)
| | - Maria Teresa Manfredi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (C.A.); (A.L.G.); (S.A.Z.)
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Metwally S, Hamada R, Sobhy K, Frey CF, Fereig RM. Seroprevalence and risk factors analysis of Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii in cattle of Beheira, Egypt. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1122092. [PMID: 36861008 PMCID: PMC9968803 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1122092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samy Metwally
- Infectious Disease Division, Department of Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Damanhour, Egypt
| | - Rania Hamada
- Clinical Pathology Division, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Damanhour, Egypt
| | - Kamel Sobhy
- Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Damanhour, Egypt
| | - Caroline F. Frey
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland,*Correspondence: Caroline F. Frey ✉
| | - Ragab M. Fereig
- Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt,Ragab M. Fereig ✉
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Hu XH, Xie SC, Liang QL, Sun LX, Li Z, Yang JF, Zhu XQ, Zou FC, He JJ. Seroprevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum infection in black goats in Yunnan Province, Southwestern China. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:975238. [PMID: 36304411 PMCID: PMC9592755 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.975238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are two obligate intracellular protozoan parasites that can cause reproductive failure and production losses. To date, there is no data of T. gondii and N. caninum seroprevalence in black goats in Yunnan Province, southwestern China. In the present study, a total of 734 serum samples were collected from black goats in four different counties of Yunnan Province. 734 and 590 serum samples were examined for antibodies against T. gondii and N. caninum by using MAT and indirect ELISA, respectively. A total of 123 and 76 samples were T. gondii-positive and N. caninum-positive, respectively. The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii in black goats was 16.76% (123/734, 95% CI: 14.06-19.46) with the titer ranged from 1:25 to 1:3200. The seroprevalence of N. caninum was 12.88% (76/590, 95% CI: 10.18-15.58). There was significant difference in seroprevalence of N. caninum in different regions (P < 0.01, χ2 = 30.63) and age groups (P < 0.05, χ2 = 11.85). Significant differences in seroprevalence of T. gondii were observed in different regions (P < 0.05, χ2 = 9.21) and different gender groups (P < 0.01, χ2 = 12.29). Results of seroprevalence of T. gondii and N. caninum indicated that T. gondii and N. caninum were prevalent parasites in black goats in Yunnan Province. This is the first report of seroprevalence of T. gondii and N. caninum in black goats in Yunnan Province. The results of this study indicated that some measures should be taken to control these two parasites and to reduce economic losses to the livestock industry in Yunnan Province.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Hui Hu
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Yunnan, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China,College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, China,State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Shi-Chen Xie
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, China,Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Engineering in Animal Vaccines, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Qin-Li Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Li-Xiu Sun
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Engineering in Animal Vaccines, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan and Center for Life Science, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Jian-Fa Yang
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Yunnan, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Xing-Quan Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Yunnan, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China,College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, China
| | - Feng-Cai Zou
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Yunnan, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China,*Correspondence: Feng-Cai Zou
| | - Jun-Jun He
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Yunnan, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China,Jun-Jun He
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