Bovine neosporosis in dairy cattle from the southern highlands of Ecuador

• Published in: Veterinary parasitology (Amsterdam) Vol. 20; p. 100377
• Main Authors: Maldonado Rivera, J.E., Vallecillo, A.J., Pérez, C.L., Cirone, K.M., Dorsch, M.A., Morrell, E.L., Scioli, V., Hecker, Y.P., Fiorani, F., Cantón, G.J., Moore, D.P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01-04-2020
• Subjects: Abortion, Veterinary - epidemiology; Abortion, Veterinary - parasitology; Animals; Bovine neosporosis; Cattle; Cattle Diseases - epidemiology; Cattle Diseases - parasitology; Coccidiosis - epidemiology; Coccidiosis - parasitology; Coccidiosis - veterinary; Dairy cattle; Dairying; Ecuador; Ecuador - epidemiology; Female; Neospora - isolation & purification; Prevalence; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Ecuador; Ecuador; Prevalence; Bovine neosporosis; Dairy cattle
• ISSN: 2405-9390; 2405-9390
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2020.100377

The aim of this study was to describe bovine neosporosis in dairy cattle from the Sierra region, Ecuador. A case-control study was performed on 841 dairy cattle from 5 dairy herds. The overall seroprevalence was 23.4% having significant association between abortion and seropositivity (p < .05). Additionally, 46 fetuses were recovered from a local slaughterhouse to evaluate the frequency of vertical transmission. Seventeen and 3 fetuses were positive by PCR and had compatible histopathological lesions, respectively. N. caninum infection must be considered as a relevant cause of reproductive losses in Ecuador.
•Neospora-seropositivity is associated to bovine abortion in dairy cattle from the Sierra region, Ecuador.•Neospora-genetic material of was frequently detected in bovine fetuses.•Bovine dairy industry in Ecuador is affected by bovine neosporosis.