First report of antibodies to Neospora spp. in horses from Portugal.
Abstract: Neospora spp. are intracellular protozoa with worldwide distribution and closely related to Toxoplasma gondii, which can infect a variety of mammals including horses. From September 2013 to June 2014, 185 horses from northern, central and southern parts of mainland Portugal were randomly sampled and tested for detection of immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibodies to Neospora spp. using an indirect multi-species enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) commercial test (ID Screen® Neospora caninum Indirect Multi-species; ID.vet Innovative Diagnostics, Grabels, France). Two horses (1.1%; CI: 0.1-3.8%), one male and one female, were found to be seropositive for Neospora spp. Both seropositive animals were horses housed indoors but with access to outdoors, used for leisure activities and were apparently healthy, with good body condition and with no alterations at physical examination. This was the first serologic survey of antibodies to Neospora spp. carried out in horses from Portugal.
Publication Date: 2019-03-14 PubMed ID: 30892382DOI: 10.1590/S1984-296120180081Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article reports the first-ever discovery of the Neospora antibodies in horses in Portugal.
Overview of The Research
- The conducted research is primarily focused on detecting evidence of infection by Neospora, a genus of parasites that can infect various mammals, including horses. The work undertaken by the researchers signifies the first-ever identification of Neospora antibodies in horses within Portugal.
Research Methods and Sample Population
- The research team conducted their study between September 2013 to June 2014.
- The sample population was constituted by 185 horses gathered randomly from the northern, central and southern regions of mainland Portugal.
- The horses were tested for the presence of immunoglobulin G antibodies to Neospora species using an indirect multi-species enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) commercial test. These antibodies are produced as part of the immune response to the Neospora infection.
Findings
- Only two horses, comprising 1.1% of the total sample size and consisting of one male and one female, were confirmed to be seropositive for Neospora species. Being seropositive implies that the horse’s immune system had produced antibodies in response to the infection, confirming the exposure to Neospora.
- Both seropositive horses were kept indoors with access to the outdoors, used for leisure activities, and despite the exposure to the pathogen, maintained good health and displayed no visible alterations during the physical examination.
Significance of The Research
- This study represented the first serologic survey of antibodies to Neospora species in horses from Portugal, thereby providing new insight into the range and prevalence of Neospora infection in Portuguese horses and possibly opening up new areas for incipient research.
Cite This Article
APA
Cruz I, Vinhas AR, Dubey JP, Cardoso L, Cotovio M, Lopes AP.
(2019).
First report of antibodies to Neospora spp. in horses from Portugal.
Rev Bras Parasitol Vet, 28(1), 161-163.
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1984-296120180081 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Old Church Veterinary Hospital, Ballyshannon, County Donegal, Ireland.
- Departamento de Ciências Veterinárias, Escola de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro - UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal.
- Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center - BARC, Agricultural Research Service - ARS, United States Department of Agriculture - USDA, Beltsville, Maryland, USA.
- Departamento de Ciências Veterinárias, Escola de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro - UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal.
- Laboratório de Parasitologia, Escola de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias - ECAV, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro - UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal.
- Hospital Veterinário, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro - UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal.
- Centro de Ciências Animal e Veterinária - CECAV, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro - UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal.
- Departamento de Ciências Veterinárias, Escola de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro - UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal.
- Hospital Veterinário, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro - UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal.
- Centro de Ciências Animal e Veterinária - CECAV, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro - UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal.
- Departamento de Ciências Veterinárias, Escola de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro - UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal.
- Laboratório de Parasitologia, Escola de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias - ECAV, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro - UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal.
- Centro de Ciências Animal e Veterinária - CECAV, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro - UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
- Coccidiosis / diagnosis
- Coccidiosis / veterinary
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
- Female
- Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horses / parasitology
- Immunoglobulin G / blood
- Male
- Neospora / immunology
- Portugal
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- 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.
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