Management factors associated with seroprevalence to Neospora caninum infection in dairy cattle in Aguascalientes, Mexico

Abstract

WITH THE AIM TO DETERMINE POSSIBLE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN SOME MANAGEMENT FACTORS AND SEROPREVALENCE TO N. CANINUM INFECTION IN DAIRY CATTLE OF AGUASCALIENTES, MEXICO, SERUM SAMPLES WERE COLLECTED FROM 381 HOLSTEIN COWS DISTRIBUTED IN 29 DAIRIES LOCATED IN EIGHT OF THE ELEVEN AGUASCALIENTES MUNICIPALITIES. SAMPLES WERE ANALYZED BY ELISA TEST AND ASSOCIATION BETWEEN SEROPREVALENCE AND ABORTION HISTORY IN THE COWS, REPLACEMENT ORIGIN, PRESENCE OF DOGS LIVING IN DAIRIES AND DISPOSAL PROCEDURE FOR PLACENTAL AND FETAL MATERIAL WAS ESTIMATED. OVERALL SEROPREVALENCE WAS 57.5%, WITH DIFFERENT VALUES BETWEEN MUNICIPALITIES IN A RANGE FROM 22% TO 67%. SEROPREVALENCE IN COWS WITH HISTORY OF ABORTIONS WAS 69%, WHILE IN NON-ABORTED COWS IT WAS 48%; THE PREVALENCE RATIO WAS 1.4 (P < 0.001), SUGGESTING AN ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ABORTION AND SEROPOSITIVITY. SEROPREVALENCE, ACCORDING TO THE REPLACEMENT ORIGIN (RAISED OR PURCHASED), WAS 57% AND 58%, RESPECTIVELY; IN REFERENCE TO PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF DOGS IT WAS 61% AND 54%, RESPECTIVELY. FINALLY, IN DAIRIES THAT HAD OR DID NOT HAVE DISPOSAL PROCEDURE PROGRAM FOR PLACENTAL AND FETAL MATERIALS, SEROPREVALENCE WAS THAT OF 61% AND 55%, RESPECTIVELY. IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO DETECT ASSOCIATION OF SEROPREVALENCE WITH ANY OF THE LAST THREE FACTORS.