Abortion by Neospora caninum in bovine herds of CARORA breed in Venezuela

Abstract

 Neospora caninum is an intracellular protozoan parasite considered nowadays as one of the main causes of cattle abortion in systems of milk and meat production around the world. In Venezuela few studies have been made in which is related the occurrence of abortion, seropositivity and the confirmed infection by Neospora caninum in aborted fetus through molecular biology techniques. The goal of this study was to evaluate the seropositivity against Neospora caninum in different farms of Carora breed in Venezuela, and to determine its relation with the occurrence of abortions caused by this etiologic agent, diagnosed through molecular and histological studies of aborted fetuses in those farms.  The six herds analyzed showed an animal with antibodies against Neospora caninum with a total positivity of 28.1%. The evaluation of aborted fetuses through histological techniques and specific PCR for Neospora caninum allowed confirming the parasite as cause of abortion in those farms. Finally, the results confirm the importance of neosporosis in Venezuela, and the data obtained sustains the inclusion of this disease in the diagnosis of diseases that occurs with abortion in Venezuela, and the application of control measures.