SEROLOGICAL SCREENING FOR Neospora caninum INFECTION IN A DAIRY CATTLE FARM WITH REPRODUCTIVE DISORDERS, IN SOUTH-EASTERN ROMANIA

Abstract

Neospora caninum is an apicomplexan protozoa parasite that causes reproductive disorders in cattle worldwide. Despite
the high seroprevalence reported in Romania, there are limited data on N. caninum infection in dairy cattle, and no
studies have evaluated the presence of infection over time in a limited area. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the
seroprevalence of N. caninum in a dairy cattle farm in Southeastern Romania where a previously study reported about
the cattle exposure to N. caninum infection. A total of 85 cattle, assigned in four groups, according to the reproductive
status (repeated breeding syndrome, history of abortion, pregnant cows, and fresh cows) were tested for the presence of
N. caninum antibodies, using an indirect ELISA test. The overall seroprevalence was 28.23% (95% CI: 18.67–37.80).
According to the reproductive groups, the seroprevalence varied between 19.04% (95% CI: 2.25-35.84) in fresh cows to
38.09% (95% CI: 17.32 - 58.87) in cows with repeated breeding syndrome. By these findings new information is provided
about the disease's presence in the studied farm, implying that infection with N. caninum may be the primary cause of
reported reproductive disorders, as well as about the infection's persistent nature.