Epidemiologia da neosporose bovina no Pantanal mato-grossense

Abstract

Neosporosis is caused by an obligate intracellular protozoan, Neospora caninum. It is considered one of the most widespread and frequent causes of abortion in cattle throughout the World. To evaluate the prevalence of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies and associated risk factors, serum samples from 2452 bovines were collected from 262 farms from the Pantanal ecoregion, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. An epidemiological questionnaire was completed at each property, Antibodies of N. caninum were detected using the Indirect Immunofluorescent Antibody Test utilizing cut-off dilution of 1:100. The risk factors associated with the probability of the animal being seropositive were analysed using logistical regression. Prevalence in the animals ranged from 25.44 % (20.10 % - 30.78 %), and in 76.72 % (71.60 % -81.84%) of the herds at least one animal was seropositive for N. caninum. The occurrence of antibodies in cattle was statistically associated with the presence of dogs on a farm, the occurrence of abortions in cows, the sale of cattle for breeding and the risk of females being seropositive increased with age. The spatial analysis demonstrated that the relative risk of the disease is constant in space and the properties with the highest prevalences are located to the south and west of the region studied.