MOLECULAR DETECTION AND PREVALENCE STUDY OF Neospora Caninum ISOLATED FROM BLOOD OF ABORTED COWS IN BABYLON PROVINCE OF IRAQ

Neosporosis is internationally documented as one of the most popular diseases in cattle that cause economic losses due to high levels of abortion cases. Although Neospora caninum has been recently classified as a new species, it is still sharing many features with Toxoplasma gondii. This study aimed to detect and Imaging N. caninum in the blood of aborted cows, and prevalence study of N. caninum infection based on age, region and month. Blood samples from 106 aborted cows were collected using the appropriate method. First, these samples were examined microscopically via blood smears using Giemsa dye to diagnose the N. caninum within RBC. A qPCR technique was carried out to detect accurately 18S rRNA gene accurately. The results revealed that 65% of total aborted cases were positive for 18S rRNA detection of N. caninum, although this parasite was found microscopically in 15% of blood smear samples. According to PCR results, the prevalence study showed that the highest rate of infection was signed in the Al-Qassim district (75%) followed by the Al-Mahaweel district (74%) and decreased in Western Hamza district (48%). According to study months, November recorded the peak of infection (88%), then August (71%), whereas July recorded the lowest percentage (50%). The statistical analysis revealed there was no significant difference between the subjected regions and study months based on (P<0.05). On the other hand, it was found that cows less than 3 years old were more susceptible to infection than those over 3 years old. the results revealed that 71% of infected cows were less than 3 years old, while 29% were at age over 3 years old with a significant difference (P<0.005). In conclusion, N. caninum can be detected through blood within RBC. Age and regional factors in cows play an important role in resisting infection with this pathogen.