Seroprevalence of Neospora caninum antibodies in dogs, cows, and humans in Assiut province, Egypt: a pilot study

AbstractNeospora caninum is an intracellular coccidian parasite infecting a broad range of hosts globally. Despite the existence of several epidemiological studies on neosporosis, there is a limited knowledge regarding the prevalence ofN. caninum infection among dogs, cows, and humans in Egypt. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted an epidemiological investigation in the Assiut province of Egypt to determine the seropositivity ofN. caninum infection among cows, dogs, and pregnant women, as well as the associated risk factors. By employing an indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, we found specificN. caninum IgG antibodies in 6% (6 of 100) and 2.33% (1 of 43) of cows and dogs ’ sera, respectively. However, we are unable to detect antibodies in the 48 tested human sera. Moreover, no statistical significance was observed among the analyzed risk factors associated with seropositive cows and dogs. Our study highlights the presence ofN. caninum in cows and dogs in the Assiut province, Egypt. Further, it underscores the need for improved comprehensive surveillance ofN. caninum infection in a large population of cattle across various locations to obtain a better understanding of the economic burden associated with the disease.Graphical abstract
Source: Journal of Parasitic Diseases - Category: Parasitology Source Type: research