Anti-Neospora caninum IgG in fetal bovine serum

Neospora caninum is an obligate intracellular protozoan, recognized as an important cause of abortion in infection cattle worldwide, and is responsible for major economic losses in beef and daily herds. There arc scarce data on the presence of antibodies in fetal scrum samples from beef cattle. The pathogen is straggling mainly by vertical transmission in ruminants. This study aimed to determine the frequency of anti-N. caninum antibodies in fetal bovine serum. Overall, 751 fetal serum samples from slaughterhouses in Uruguaiana and Santo Angelo (Rio Grande do Sul state) were used. Serologic diagnosis was made using indirect immunolluorescence assay (IFA). Slides were prepared by culturing infected Vero cells using tachyzoites of the N. caninum NC-1 strain and a serum dilution of 1:25. Of the 751 samples analyzed, 11.7% (88/751) were positive in the IFA assay. The results indicate an occurrence of neosporosis in the studied region. as well as the possibility of transplacental transmission of the protozoon, characterizing an important mechanism of propagation for the disease.