Neospora caninum SEROPOSITIVITY AND ASSOCIATION WITH ABORTIONS AND STILLBIRTHS IN DAIRY CATTLE FROM SOUTHEASTERN BAHIA, BRAZIL

Galvao, G.da S., Gondim, L.F.P., Pereira, M.J.S., de Oliveira, U.V. & Munhoz, A.D. [Neospora caninum seropositivity and association with abortions and stillbirths in dairy cattle from Southeastern Bahia, Brazil]. Soropositividade para Neospora caninum e associacao ao abortamento e natimortos em rebanhos leiteiros do sudeste da Bahia, Brasil. Revista Brasileira de Medicina Veterinaria, 33(4):234-237, 2011. Laboratorio de Analises Clinicas Veterinarias, Departamento de Ciencias Agrarias e Ambientais, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rodovia Ilheus-Itabuna, Km 16, Salobrinho, Ilheus, 45662000, BA, Brasil. E-mail: munhoz@uesc.br This study aimed to determine the presence of antibodies against Neospora caninum and the association between soropositivity and cases of abortion and stillborn in dairy cattle belonging to the Southeast of Bahia, Brazil. Serum samples were collected from 755 cattle with ages equal or superior to five months. Serology was performed by an indirect immunofluorescence test with a cutoff of 1:200. The Fisher exact test was used with a significance level of 5% to determine the association between seropositivity and cases of abortion and stillborn calves. The frequency of seropositive animals in herds was 13% (98/755), with titles ranging from 1:200 to 1:3200. Antibodies against N. caninum were detected in 18 (94.7%) of 19 farms, with positivity ranging from 1.1 to 63.6%. The history of abortion (p=0.005) and stillbirth (p=0.012) were significantly associated with seropositivity, being respectively, 3.76 and 7.44 times more frequent in seropositive cows. The results show the exposure of cattle to N. caninum in the studied microrregion and indicate that neosporosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of bovine abortion in the region.