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Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)2020; 9(11); 962; doi: 10.3390/pathogens9110962

Detection of Neospora caninum Infection in Aborted Equine Fetuses in Israel.

Abstract: In horses, and have been associated with fetal loss, and neurological disease, respectively. This study investigated the role of spp. infection in equine abortion in Israel. The presence of anti- spp. antibodies was evaluated in 31 aborting mares by indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and the presence of parasite DNA in their aborted fetuses was evaluated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), using two target loci (ITS1 and Nc5). The seroprevalence found in aborting mares was 70.9% and the prevalence by DNA detection in the aborted fetuses was 41.9%. Transplacental transmission from positive mares to their fetuses was 45.4% (10/22), while 33.3% (3/9) of fetuses of seronegative mares also tested positive for . The use of two PCR targets improved the sensitivity of parasite detection, and positive samples were identified by sequence analyses as . These finding suggest that could be a significant cause of abortion in horses, and that transplacental transmission in horses is an important way of transmission of . The results presented here demonstrated the necessity to use several tests concurrently, including serological and molecular assays in order to confirm the involvement of in mare abortions.
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Publication Date: 2020-11-19 PubMed ID: 33228059PubMed Central: PMC7699351DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9110962Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research paper dives into the investigation of Neospora caninum infection, a known factor causing fetal loss and neurological diseases, in horses undergoing abortion in Israel. The approach involves assessing the presence of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in mares as well as detecting parasite DNA in aborted fetuses.

Study Method

  • The study focused on understanding the role of Neospora caninum infection in equine abortion cases in Israel.
  • The presence of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies was evaluated in 31 mares undergoing abortion through the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT).
  • Furthermore, the existence of parasite DNA in the aborted fetuses was assessed via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using two target points (ITS1 and Nc5).

Results and Findings

  • A significant proportion (70.9%) of the aborting mares were found to have developed antibodies against Neospora caninum, suggesting they had been infected with the parasite.
  • Analysis of the aborted fetuses showed 41.9% positive for parasite DNA.
  • The transmission of Neospora caninum from the infected mares to their fetuses was found to be accounting for 45.4% (10/22) of the examined cases, indicating the importance of transplacental transmission.
  • Interestingly, 33.3% (3/9) of fetuses from mares without detectable antibodies (seronegative mares) also tested positive for Neospora caninum.
  • Usage of two PCR target areas significantly improved the sensitivity of the parasite detection process.

Implication

  • The results suggest Neospora caninum could be a significant cause of abortion in horses.
  • The high rate of transplacental transmission underscores its importance in the spread of Neospora caninum among equine populations.
  • The dressage emphasizes the importance of implementing several tests concurrently, including serological and molecular assays, to confirm Neospora caninum’s involvement in horse abortions.

Cite This Article

APA
Leszkowicz Mazuz M, Mimoun L, Schvartz G, Tirosh-Levy S, Savitzki I, Edery N, Blum SE, Baneth G, Pusterla N, Steinman A. (2020). Detection of Neospora caninum Infection in Aborted Equine Fetuses in Israel. Pathogens, 9(11), 962. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens9110962

Publication

Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)
ISSN: 2076-0817
NlmUniqueID: 101596317
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 9
Issue: 11
PII: 962

Researcher Affiliations

Leszkowicz Mazuz, Monica
  • Division of Parasitology, Kimron Veterinary Institute, Beit Dagan 50200, Israel.
Mimoun, Lea
  • Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.
Schvartz, Gili
  • Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.
Tirosh-Levy, Sharon
  • Division of Parasitology, Kimron Veterinary Institute, Beit Dagan 50200, Israel.
  • Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.
Savitzki, Igor
  • Division of Parasitology, Kimron Veterinary Institute, Beit Dagan 50200, Israel.
Edery, Nir
  • Division of Pathology, Kimron Veterinary Institute, Beit Dagan 50200, Israel.
Blum, Shlomo E
  • Division of Bacteriology, Kimron Veterinary Institute, Beit Dagan 50200, Israel.
Baneth, Gad
  • Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.
Pusterla, Nicola
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Steinman, Amir
  • Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Berman N, Tirosh-Levy S, Steinman A, Minderigiu A, Blinder E, Leszkowicz Mazuz M. First Detection of Anti-Besnoitia spp. Antibodies in Equids in Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Microorganisms 2023 Apr 3;11(4).
    doi: 10.3390/microorganisms11040929pubmed: 37110352google scholar: lookup
  2. Mimoun L, Steinman A, Kliachko Y, Tirosh-Levy S, Schvartz G, Blinder E, Baneth G, Mazuz ML. Neospora spp. Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for Seropositivity in Apparently Healthy Horses and Pregnant Mares. Animals (Basel) 2022 Oct 7;12(19).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12192699pubmed: 36230440google scholar: lookup
  3. Jabar Aziz K, Mikaeel FB, Azeez SH, Bilal SJ. Seroepidemiological study of Neospora caninum in equids using c-ELISA in Erbil Province, Iraq. Folia Parasitol 2024 Nov 25;71.
    doi: 10.14411/fp.2024.022pubmed: 39632700google scholar: lookup
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