Neospora caninum in beef herds in New South Wales, Australia. 1: seroprevalence study

Abstract

Overall, about two-thirds of all herds in NSW showed evidence of infection, but the seroprevalence of N. caninum in individual beef cattle in NSW was low to moderate (1.8-11.3%). Significant differences occurred between regions. The risk for herds being positive for N. caninum was associated with geographic factors, particularly in the Mid-North Coast Region.

Neospora caninumin beef herds in New South Wales, Australia. 2: analysis of risk factors

“…From this population, a request to participate was sent to a random sample of 1780 properties stratified by geographic region. Of them, 63 properties were successfully recruited and approximately 55 cattle from each herd were bled and tested using the N. caninum ELISA for the seroprevalence study …”

“…The full questionnaire included property attributes, detailed reproductive information and herd management factors, including other enterprises on the farm, and questions about canid exposure. Where possible, respondents were asked to include information about the outcome of pregnancy for the animals that were tested as part of the N. caninum seroprevalence study …”

“…A study in central Queensland found that 95% of beef herds had at least one N. caninum reactor to indirect‐fluorescent antibody test, with an average of 14.7% of cows within a herd being positive . In NSW, the occurrence of N. caninum infection is 63.8% in beef herds, with an average of 5.2% of cows within a herd being positive on ELISA . Similarly, dairy herds in New South Wales (NSW) and South Australia returned bulk‐milk‐test ELISA positive results in 85% and 35% of tested herds, respectively, and 21.1% of individual milk samples from NSW dairy cattle were positive to N. caninum ELISA …”

In this issue – March 2017

“…The first of the production animal articles in this issue describes the distribution of Neosporum caninum in NSW beef cattle . It was done through strategic sampling of beef breeding cows across the state and serological testing using ELISA.…”

“…The first of the production animal articles in this issue describes the distribution of Neosporum caninum in NSW beef cattle. 4 It was done through strategic sampling of beef breeding cows across the state and serological testing using ELISA. This disease costs the Australian beef industry an estimated A$25 million per year; studies reported more than 10 years ago showed individual prevalences in Queensland and NSW ranging from 10% to 24%, with between 35% and 99% of herds having at least one positive result.…”