Investigation of Neospora sp. antibodies in aborted mares from Normandy, France.
Abstract: Neospora caninum, an apicomplexan protozoan parasite, is recognized as a major cause of abortion in cattle while limited information is presently available on association between equine Neospora infections and abortions. The aim of the present study was to document prevalence of antibodies against Neospora sp. in aborted mares as a clue to the role of N. caninum in mare reproductive failure in Normandy, France. Using an agglutination test, the number of animals with elevated (>80) anti-Neospora sp. antibody titer was higher in a group of 54 aborted mares than in randomly chosen groups of 45 mares and 76 horses sampled for equine arteritis virus and Fasciola hepatica antibodies, respectively (P<0.001). N. caninum DNA was found in 3/91 fetal brains, 2/77 fetal hearts, and 1/1 placenta, and present in both brains and hearts of two fetuses. In 13 cases for which both mare serum and fetus were available, no fetal N. caninum amplification product was present while a large variation of maternal antibody titers was found. Data prompt at additional surveys of association between equine reproductive failure and Neospora sp. infection.
Publication Date: 2003-12-05 PubMed ID: 14651869DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2003.10.007Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research investigates the presence of Neospora caninum, a parasite known to cause abortion in cattle, in aborted horses in Normandy, France. The study suggests a higher prevalence of the parasite in aborted mares which might indicate the role of N. caninum in equine reproductive failures.
Research Objective
- The research aimed to explore and document the prevalence of Neospora sp. antibodies in aborted horse fetuses in Normandy, France. The goal was to understand the possible role of Neospora caninum, a type of parasite, in causing abortions in horses. It is suspected that this parasite, already confirmed as a cause of abortion in cattle, might also affect horses.
Methods Used
- The researchers used an agglutination test, a method that examines if certain substances cause blood particles to clump together.
- They tested the number of animals with high antibody titers against Neospora in comparison to a control group, consisting of randomly chosen horses sampled for equine arteritis virus and Fasciola hepatica antibodies.
- They analyzed fetal tissues (brains and hearts) and one placenta for the presence of N. caninum DNA.
Key Findings
- Results showed that elevated anti-Neospora sp. antibody levels were found more in a group of 54 aborted mares than in randomly chosen groups of 45 mares and 76 horses.
- Neospora caninum DNA was discovered in the fetal brains, hearts, and one placenta.
- There was large variation of maternal antibody titers in the 13 cases where both mare serum and fetus were available, but no fetal N. caninum amplification product was found.
Conclusion and future Research
- This study suggests a potential association between Neospora sp. infection and equine reproductive failure. However, it posits that additional research is needed to fully understand and confirm this relationship.
Cite This Article
APA
Pitel PH, Romand S, Pronost S, Foucher N, Gargala G, Maillard K, Thulliez P, Collobert-Laugier C, Tainturier D, Fortier G, Ballet JJ.
(2003).
Investigation of Neospora sp. antibodies in aborted mares from Normandy, France.
Vet Parasitol, 118(1-2), 1-6.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2003.10.007 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Laboratoire Départemental Frank Duncombe, 1 Route de Rosel, 14053 Caen Cedex 4, France. ph.pitel@cg14.fr
MeSH Terms
- Aborted Fetus / parasitology
- Abortion, Veterinary / epidemiology
- Abortion, Veterinary / parasitology
- Agglutination Tests / veterinary
- Animals
- Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
- Coccidiosis / complications
- Coccidiosis / epidemiology
- Coccidiosis / veterinary
- DNA, Protozoan / analysis
- Female
- France / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horses
- Male
- Neospora / genetics
- Neospora / immunology
- Neospora / isolation & purification
- Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / epidemiology
- Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / veterinary
- Prevalence
- Seroepidemiologic Studies
Citations
This article has been cited 10 times.- Granella MCS, Mendes RP, da Silva Casa M, Ribeiro GSN, Sangioni LA, Vogel FSF, Braünig P, Ferian PE, Salbego FZ, Schwarz DGG, Fonteque JH. Seroprevalence of Neospora spp. in horses reared in rural and urban areas in southern Brazil. Trop Anim Health Prod 2025 May 30;57(5):236.
- Alshammari A, Gattan HS, Marzok M, Selim A. Seroprevalence and risk factors for Neospora spp. infection in equine in Egypt. Sci Rep 2023 Nov 19;13(1):20242.
- Leszkowicz Mazuz M, Mimoun L, Schvartz G, Tirosh-Levy S, Savitzki I, Edery N, Blum SE, Baneth G, Pusterla N, Steinman A. Detection of Neospora caninum Infection in Aborted Equine Fetuses in Israel. Pathogens 2020 Nov 19;9(11).
- Ferra B, Holec-Gąsior L, Grąźlewska W. Toxoplasma gondii Recombinant Antigens in the Serodiagnosis of Toxoplasmosis in Domestic and Farm Animals. Animals (Basel) 2020 Jul 22;10(8).
- Cong W, Nie LB, Qin SY, Wang WL, Qian AD, Meng QF. Prevalence of Neospora spp. in donkeys in China. Parasite 2018;25:16.
- Gondim LFP, Mineo JR, Schares G. Importance of serological cross-reactivity among Toxoplasma gondii, Hammondia spp., Neospora spp., Sarcocystis spp. and Besnoitia besnoiti. Parasitology 2017 Jun;144(7):851-868.
- Tavalla M, Sabaghan M, Abdizadeh R, Khademvatan S, Rafiei A, Razavi Piranshahi A. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora spp. Infections in Arab Horses, Southwest of Iran. Jundishapur J Microbiol 2015 Mar;8(3):e14939.
- Hosseini M, Moraveji M, Tahamtan Y, Rahimian A, Mohammadi G, Namavari M. Seroprevalence of Neospora spp. in Horses in North East of Iran. Iran J Parasitol 2011 Jun;6(2):64-8.
- Bártová E, Sedlák K, Syrová M, Literák I. Neospora spp. and Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in horses in the Czech Republic. Parasitol Res 2010 Sep;107(4):783-5.
- Dubey JP, Schares G, Ortega-Mora LM. Epidemiology and control of neosporosis and Neospora caninum. Clin Microbiol Rev 2007 Apr;20(2):323-67.
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