BACKGROUND: Neosporosis is a disease caused by the protozoan Neospora caninum, which is characterized by abortion in cattle and neuromuscular paralysis of various organs, particularly the hind limbs of dogs. The diagnosis of neosporosis is often made by serological molecular tests.OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to investigate the presence of N. caninum oocysts in the feces of dogs. METHODS: A total of 100 fecal samples were collected from indoor and outdoor dogs during 2018-2019 around Tabriz. Information about age, location, and history of antiparasitic treatment of the dogs were recorded in a questionnaire. Primarily, fecal samples were examined microscopically for Neospora ocysts. After breaking the collected oocysts through freeze-thaw and sonication, DNA contents of the oocysts were extracted and analyzed via PCR.RESULTS: In a light microscopic study, oocysts were observed in 45 (45 %) of the fecal samples. In the PCR study, 21 of the 45 cases tested positive for Neospora infection (21 %). All the positive cases of infection were observed in molecular examination in dogs older than one year. The positive cases were observed in 2 % of the domestic dogs, 8 % of the stray dogs, 6 % of the kennel dogs, and 5 % of the rural dogs. Furthermore, 19 % of the infected dogs had no history of antiparasitic treatment; only 2% had a history of antiparasitic treatment. The results of statistical analysis showed that the rate of infection in dogs around Tabriz with Neospora caninum was significantly (P<0.05) related to the animal's living environment and history of antiparasitic treatment. However, this rate was found to have no significant relationships with the age of the animals.CONCLUSIONS: Due to the high rate of infection with Neospora caninum in dogs in Tabriz, it is necessary to apply preventive methods in traditional and industrial farms around this city and use rapid diagnosis methods in them.

BACKGROUND: Neospora caninum is one of the most important pathogenic protozoan parasites causing bovine abortion around the world. Objectives: The aim of this study was to detect the presence of Neospora caninum in the brain, cerebellum and medulla oblongata of aborted fetuses in cattle in Arak by means of molecular method. Methods: 38 samples of brain, cerebellum and medulla oblongata from aborted fetuses in dairy cattle of Arak were tested for the presence of Neospora with nested-PCR. Results: Survey findings indicated the presence of DNA in 26.3 % of aborted fetal brains. In the cerebellum and medulla oblongata samples no Neospora caninum  DNA was detected. There was a significant relationship between neosporosis and maternal age (number of calvings), abortion history and the presence of dogs in the herd. Conclusions: The results showed a significant association between the infection and the number of abortions in the examined cows; As a result it seems that neosporosis could be an important factor in epidemic abortions in Arak city’s dairy farms which requires continuous monitoring and implementation of prevention programs in the dairy industry.

BACKGROUND: Neospora caninum is a protozoanintracellular parasite which is considered as one of the main factors forrecurrent abortions of dairy cattle in various countries such as Iran. Thisparasite leads to negative economic impacts such as decline in reproduction,reduced amount of milk, and long calving intervals. OBJECTIVES: Therehave been numerous tests to determine the cause of abortion. PCR test isconsidered as a suitable method to specify Neospora caninum DNA and itcan determine the DNA in tissue samples and body fluids of the aborted fetus.This study aims to use PCR to evaluate parasites in the tissues of abortedfetuses so as to detect the best tissue for determining the parasite. METHODS:In this study, 82 aborted fetuses in the first six months of 2015 were studied.The tissues were selected from brain, liver, lungs, spleen, kidneys and rennetfluids. The NP21plus primer was used to detect the presence of Neosporacaninum in samples. After conducting the PCR Test, samples with 340bp bandin Gel electrophoresis were considered as positive. Statistical data from thesurvey of Neospora caninum’s presence in selected tissues were evaluatedby SAS (version 9.2) software. RESULTS: Contamination with this parasitewas found in 34 brain samples (41.5%) of aborted fetuses. In 2 (2.4%) and 4(4.9%) of the aborted fetuses, parasite DNA was found in lung and liver tissuesalong with brain tissues, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Due to significantdifference of infection of brain tissues in comparison to other tissues, ourstudy considers brain tissue as the most appropriate sample for detecting Neosporacaninum infection in aborted fetuses in PCR method

BACKGROUND: Over the recent years, Neospora caninum has been one of the most important causes of abortion in dairy cattle. OBJECTIVES: We conducted the present study in order to investigate the seroprevalence of N. caninum in dairy cattle in Semnan province and its effect on abortion. METHODS: 237 blood samples were obtained from various Semnan dairy farms and 104 bulk dairy samples from four milk collection centers in Semnan, Garmsar, Damghan, and Shahrood were tested for sera and milk utilizing ELISA (Svanova Biotech AB) test kits. RESULTS: The results revealed that 87.27 % of bovine serum was positive. The percentage of opacity density (OD) of positive sample (PP) ranged from 72.17 to 137.3 (114.21±24.65). In addition, the average rate of milk seroprevalence to the parasite was 95.23 % in Semnan province. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of Neospora caninum infection in blood and milk was high in Semnan, yet no significant relationships were observed with abortion (p < /em>>0.05).

Introduction: Abortion in cattle is a major source of economic losses for the agriculture sector. It can be due to infectious or non-infectious factors. Among infectious factors, parasites, bacteria, viruses, and fungi can be involved. The present work investigated the prevalence of the main infectious agents of abortion in Algerian cattle. Material and Methods: Altogether 278 non-aborting and 82 aborting cows were analysed. Results: The prevalence ranged from 0% for Tritrichomonas foetus to 15% for Neospora caninum. Additionally, a case-control study was performed to find the association between the presence of the pathogens and the occurrence of abortion in cows. The odds ratios were significant for Neospora caninum, bovine herpes virus 4, BVD virus, Brucella abortus, Salmonella Dublin, Leptospira interrogans serovar Hardjo, and Coxiella burnetii. Conclusions: The pathogens enumerated here could be major causes of abortion among Algerian cattle.

OBJECTIVE To determine the extent of environmental exposure to heteroxenous coccidia from wild canid feces in southeastern Ohio. SAMPLE 285 presumed wild canid fecal samples collected across an ecological system in southeastern Ohio. PROCEDURES Morphological classification and molecular analysis were used to determine the canid genus for collected fecal samples. Microscopic and molecular analysis were used to detect coccidian oocysts and DNA. Several variables were analyzed for associations with coccidian DNA detection or prevalence. RESULTS Coccidian DNA was detected in 51 of 285 (17.9%) fecal samples. Of those positive samples, 1% (95% confidence interval, 0.4% to 3%) had positive results for Hammondia heydorni and none had positive results for Neospora caninum, for an estimated environmental N caninum prevalence of 0% (95% confidence interval, 0% to 7%)/1-km2 hexagonal area evaluated. Morphological classification revealed that 78.9% (225/285) of fecal samples were from coyotes and 17.2% (49/285) were from foxes. No difference in proportions of coccidian DNA-positive fecal samples was identified among canid species. Environmental temperature and fecal freshness were associated with coccidian DNA detection. Land use type, relative canid density, and cattle density were not associated with the prevalence of coccidian DNA-positive samples. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE The low prevalence of coccidia shed in wild canid feces in this study, including the estimated 0% environmental prevalence of N caninum, suggested that the role of the oocyst environmental phase in coccidia transmission to ruminants is likely minor in rural southeastern Ohio.

Infection with Neospora caninum in a dog is described. The predominant clinical findings were proprioception deficit, involuntary and continuous contracture of the pelvic extremity muscles. N. caninum is structurally similar to Toxoplasma gondii, but it is immunologically distinct. Therefore, infections had been misdiagnosed as toxoplasmosis. The diagnosis was confirmed by an immunofluorescence antibody test. The parasite is sensitive to clindamycin and trimethoprim/sulphonamide, however the prognosis is poor especially if the muscle contractures have occurred.

This survey was carried out to investigate the seroprevalence of antibodies to Neospora (N.) caninum in dairy cattle raised in Kangwon province in Korea. A total of 349 sera collected from dairy cattle were tested for N. caninum antibodies using an indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Ninety six (27.5%) dairy cattle were positive by IFAT. Seroprevalence of cows was 28.9% (91/315) and seroprevalence of boars was 14.7% (5/34). The seroprevalences of cows were increased according to the ages from 19.6% in cows less than 2 year-old to 50.0% in cows more than 7 year-old. Among the seroprevalences of cattle according to the raised areas, five counties or cities, Wheongsung was 34.6% (27/78), Wonju was 29.3% (46/157), Hongcheon was 28.9% (13/45), Chuncheon was 15.0% (3/20) and Cheolwon was 13.3% (2/15). It was proved that dairy cattle raised in Kangwon provinces exposed extensively and seriously to N. caninum.

Little is known about latent infection and molecular characterisation of Neospora caninum in sheep (Ovis aries). In this study, 330 sheep samples (180 hearts and 150 brains) were analysed for N. caninum DNA by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the Nc-5 gene. Neospora caninum DNA was detected in 3.9% (13/330) of sheep samples. The parasite’s DNA was detected in 6.7% of heart samples (12/180) and 0.7% (1/150) of brain samples. No clinical signs were recorded from infected or uninfected animals. Sequencing of the genomic DNA revealed 96% – 99% similarity with each other and 95.15% – 100% similarity with N. caninum sequences deposited in GenBank. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the use of PCR to identify latent neosporosis in sheep in Iran. The results of this study have the potential to contribute to our understanding of the role of N. caninum-infected sheep in the epidemiology of neosporosis.

Neospora caninum-induced abortion is a major production problem in the daily cattle industry in the United States and worldwide. Abortions attributable to naturally acquired N caninum infection also have been observed in pygmy goats. We studied experimentally induced infections with N caninum in pregnant pygmy does to determine whether abortions attributable to N caninum infection would occur after inoculation. Seven pregnant pygmy does (1 control doe and 6 inoculated with N caninum) were studied. The control doe remained clinically normal throughout the study and delivered 2 healthy kids. Abortion, fetal death, and stillbirths were observed in some pregnant does inoculated with N caninum. Two pregnant pygmy does inoculated with N caninum early in gestation (day 51) had fetuses that died and were aborted, or died and were reabsorbed. Neospora caninum tachyzoites and lesions were observed in the brain, spinal cord, and heart of aborted fetuses; parasites also were isolated from the placenta. Four additional pregnant pygmy does (2 inoculated at mid-gestation [day 85], and 2 at late gestation [day 127]) did not abort after inoculation. However, 1 doe inoculated during mid-gestation delivered a stillborn fetus that had died about 1 week prior to parturition. This kid was congenitally infected with N caninum. Neospora caninum was isolated from the placentas of all inoculated does examined. Neonatal neosporosis was not observed in live-born kids, nor were stages of N caninum isolated from any live-born kid. Does did not undergo abortion or have congenitally infected kids when they were rebred and evaluated for neosporosis.