Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária ()

Seroprevalence and risk factors for Neospora caninum in goats in Santa Catarina state, Brazil

  • Josué Pires Topazio,
  • Augusto Weber,
  • Giovana Camillo,
  • Fernanda Flores Vogel,
  • Gustavo Machado,
  • André Ribeiro,
  • Anderson Barbosa Moura,
  • Leandro Sâmia Lopes,
  • Alexandre Alberto Tonin,
  • Natan Marcos Soldá,
  • Patrícia Bräunig,
  • Aleksandro Schafer da Silva

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1984-29612014062
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 23, no. 3
pp. 360 – 366

Abstract

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Neosporosis is an infectious disease caused by the parasite Neospora caninum. Knowledge regarding neosporosis in goats is still quite limited, especially in the state of Santa Catarina (SC), southern Brazil. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the seroprevalence and risk factors for N. caninum in goats in the western and mountain regions of SC. Blood samples were collected from 654 goats in 57 municipalities. The indirect immunofluorescence test was used for antibody detection against N. caninum. Thirty samples (4.58%) were seropositive, with titers ranging from 1:50 to 1:6400. An epidemiological survey was also conducted in order to identify risk factors for neosporosis in goats. It was found that reproductive problems on the farms, as well as the diet and direct contact with dogs were casual risks for neosporosis. These results indicate that N. caninum infects goats in these regions, which may lead to reproductive problems.

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