Seroprevalence of Neospora caninum in Cattle in Nigde Province, Turkey

ABSTRACT
This study was carried out in order to investigate the presence of Neospora caninum antibodies in local cattle breeds in the Nigde province. The animals used in this study consisted of cattle of at least one year of age slaughtered at a local abattoir in Nigde province of Turkey. Blood samples were obtained from 264 cattle (207 male, 57 female) and serum samples were tested for antibodies to N. caninum using commercial competitive ELISA (c-ELISA) (VMRD, Pulman, WA, USA). According to the serological examination, 70 (26.51%) of 264 cattle were seropositive for N. caninum. Anti-N. caninum antibodies were detected in 63 (30.43%) of 207 male cattle and 7 (12.28%) of 57 female cattle. There was a statistically significant differences in seropositivity between genders (p < 0.05). This is the first serologic survey for N. caninum antibodies performed on cattle in Nigde province.

Keywords: Neospora caninum; Neosporosis; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA); Seroprevalence; Cattle; Nigde; Turkey.
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