Prevalence of Anti-Neospora caninum Antibodies in Sheep in Nevşehir Province, Turkey

Abstract

This study was carried out in order to investigate the presence of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in sheep in the Nevşehir province in Turkey. Blood samples were taken from randomly selected 180 sheep, which were between 1 and 7 years of age and from different locations in Nevşehir province. All of the serum samples were ELISA tested for N. caninum antibodies. Fourteen (7.8%) of serum samples were found to be seropositive for N. caninum antibodies by using ELISA. According to the age, antibodies to N. caninum were found in six (7.7%) of 78 sheep at the age of 1-2 years of age, in four (7.3%) of 55 sheep at the age of 3-4 years of age, and in four (8.5%) of 47 sheep at the age of 5-7 years of age. Anti-N. caninum antibodies were detected in 13 (8.0%) of 162 ewes and 1 (5.6%) of 18 rams. Moreover, 34.8%, the highest seropositivity rate in this study was found in the central regions of Nevşehir, while the no antibodies were detected in Kozaklı, Acıgöl, Hacıbektaş and Derinkuyu regions. The seropositivity rates of N. caninum were not statistically significant with regard to age groups (P=0.342), gender (P=0.261) and in relation to the study centers (P=0.173). This is the first serologic survey for N. caninum antibodies performed on sheep in Nevşehir province.

Keywords

ELISA; Neospora caninum; Nevşehir; Seroprevalence; Sheep; Ovine; Turkey.