Application of the Neospora caninum IgG avidity ELISA in assessment of chronic reproductive losses after an outbreak of neosporosis in a herd of beef cattle

J Vet Diagn Invest. 2003 Jan;15(1):3-7. doi: 10.1177/104063870301500102.

Abstract

Point-source infections are most likely the cause for Neospora caninum-induced abortion outbreaks in cattle, whereas an increased annual abortion rate may be a consequence of vertical transmission. The aims of the present study were to examine the reproductive effects of neosporosis in a beef herd for 3 years, after a point-source outbreak and to use IgG avidity serology to examine the chronicity of infections and patterns of transmission. During the study, 76-78% of animals were seropositive for N. caninum. The pregnancy rate varied from 88% to 94%, without any reduction in the pregnancy rate of seropositive cows compared with seronegative cows. The annual abortion rate was 2.5-5.5%, and all but 1 abortion occurred in seropositive dams. The efficiency of vertical transmission was estimated to be 85%. Several calves, born to seronegative dams, were seropositive at 6-13 months of age, indicating a 22% mean annual rate of horizontal transmission. The mean avidity in seropositive cows increased from 30 during the initial outbreak to 74 after 3 years. The mode of IgG avidity was 21-40 during the initial abortion outbreak, 41-60 after 1 year, and 61-80 after 2 and 3 years. The results reveal high annual rates of both vertical and horizontal transmission of N. caninum in a herd of beef cows and provide further validation on the ability of the N. caninum IgG avidity ELISA to accurately assess the chronicity of infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Abortion, Veterinary / complications
  • Abortion, Veterinary / immunology
  • Abortion, Veterinary / parasitology
  • Abortion, Veterinary / transmission
  • Animals
  • Antibody Affinity
  • Cattle
  • Cattle Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Cattle Diseases / immunology
  • Cattle Diseases / parasitology
  • Cattle Diseases / transmission*
  • Chronic Disease
  • Coccidiosis / complications
  • Coccidiosis / epidemiology
  • Coccidiosis / transmission*
  • Coccidiosis / veterinary*
  • Disease Outbreaks / veterinary
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood*
  • Neospora / immunology*
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / immunology
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / parasitology
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / veterinary*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin G