[Seroprevalence and month dynamic of Neospora sp. antibodies in pregnant mares].

This research study investigates the prevalence and changes of Neospora antibodies in pregnant mares over a period of several months. The findings suggest that monitoring for neosporosis, a disease caused by this parasite, is important for the health of these animals, especially between the 8th and 11th month of pregnancy.

Objective and Methodology

• The researchers aimed to understand the seroprevalence (the number of individuals in a population who test positive for a specific disease based on blood serum specimens) and dynamic (change over time) of anti-Neospora antibodies in pregnant mares (female horses).
• They analyzed blood samples from 14 mares during the 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th months of pregnancy using an indirect immunofluorescence technique. This method detects the presence of specific antibodies in the blood serum that demonstrate an immune response to Neospora, a type of parasitic protozoan that can cause disease in animals.

Findings

• The results fluctuated depending on the month of pregnancy and the dilution of the serum sample. When the serum samples were diluted 1:50, the highest seroprevalence was found in the 8th month (57%). It showed the highest conversion to seropositive status, which would indicate presence of the disease in the animal, in the 10th month.
• Throughout the study period, 85.7% of the mares tested positive for Neospora antibodies at least once. Among these mares, seven tested positive in the 11th month, with three possessing extremely high antibody levels.
• When serum was diluted 1:100, the highest seroprevalence for Neospora antibodies was in the 11th month (29%), and again, the highest seropositive conversion occurred in the 10th month. 64% of the mares tested positive at least once for Neospora antibodies during their pregnancy in this dilution scale, with four testing positive in the 11th month.
• The researchers established a substantial variation in the serum levels of anti-Neospora antibodies over the testing period. The fluctuation of these antibodies across the months of pregnancy indicates an ongoing battle between the host’s immune system and the parasitic infection, or repeated exposure to the parasite.

Implications

• From this study, it is clear that neosporosis is prevalent among pregnant mares, and therefore should be a key consideration for the veterinary care of these animals.
• The variation in seroprevalence and seropositive conversion throughout the later months of pregnancy emphasizes the importance of recurrent testing for Neospora antibodies.
• Monitoring for neosporosis between the 8th and 11th month of pregnancy could be instrumental in ensuring the sanitary conditions of pregnant mares and may contribute positively to their overall health and reproduction efficacy.