Serological and molecular diagnosis of Neospora caninum from ewe milk in Al-Diwaniyah province, Iraq

Abstract

Neospora caninum is a protozoan parasite with a global distribution, and there is increasing evidence of its association with abortion in infected ewes. Based on our knowledge, there is no clear information regarding the existence of this infectious agent in ewe milk in Iraq. According to this, the current study was conducted to identify the presence of N. caninum in ewe milk in Al-Diwaniyah Province. Ninety-six milk samples were collected from ewes in different study area sites. These samples were subjected to ELISA, PCR, and Nc5-partial gene sequencing. The sequencing was followed by a phylogenetic study to identify genetic evolution. The ELISA findings revealed the presence of the parasitic antigen in 23/96 (23.96%), while PCR revealed only 5/96 (5.2%). However, The PCR-positive samples were sequenced, and the phylogenetic results demonstrated that the N. caninum isolates were closely similar to those recovered from milk, brain, and milk samples from different countries, such as New Zealand and the United States. The present study indicates that Neospora caninum has existed in milk samples from ewes in Al-Diwaniyah Province. This presence could indicate an essential link to abortion in ewes. The genetic evolution may provide substantial information that the current study isolates may have descended from USA or New Zealand isolates due to different means of dissemination, such as traveling and importing animals.

Keywords

• abortion
• neosporosis
• protozoa