Prevalence of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in cattle from the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.

Neospora caninum is an obligate intracellular parasite that can infect domestic and wild canids, as well as ruminants and equines. It was described in 1988 and has been known as a major cause of abortion in bovines and neuromuscular alterations and death in dogs. To estimate the prevalence of bovine neosporosis in the 22 municipalities of the so-called Estrato 1 subregion of the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul, blood samples were collected from cows aged 24 months and older, from December 2003 to March 2004. During sample collection, a questionnaire was used to gather data of epidemiological interest. The samples were subjected to serological diagnosis (indirect fluorescence antibody test - IFAT). Prevalences of 14.9% (449/2488) and 69.8% (143/205) were found for the animals and herds sampled, respectively. The variable found to be associated with seropositivity to N. caninum was abortion (OR 2.52; CI 1.25-5.06). The results revealed the presence of infection by N. caninum in the herds investigated, drawing attention to its role as a potential cause of abortion in cattle in Mato Grosso do Sul.