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Title: OCCURRENCE OF NEOSPORA CANINUM ANTIBODIES IN CAPYBARAS (HYDROCHAERIS HYDROCHAERIS) FROM SÃO PAULO STATE, BRAZIL

Author
item YAI, L E - SAO PAULO, BRAZIL
item RAGOZO, A M - SAO PAULO, BRAZIL
item CANON-FRANCO, W - SAO PAULO, BRAZIL
item Dubey, Jitender
item GENNARI, S - SAO PAULO, BRAZIL

Submitted to: Journal of Parasitology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/1/2007
Publication Date: 6/30/2008
Citation: Yai, L.O., Ragozo, A.A., Canon-Franco, W.A., Dubey, J.P., Gennari, S.M. 2008. Occurrence of neospora caninum antibodies in capybaras (hydrochaeris hydrochaeris) from São Paulo State, Brazil. Journal of Parasitology. 94:766-766.

Interpretive Summary: Neospora caninum is a single-celled parasite. It causes abortion in cattle and paralysis in companion animals. It is the most important cause of abortion in dairy cattle. Dogs and coyotes are its definitive hosts and main reservoirs of infection. This parasite is transmitted efficiently from the cow to the calf transplacentally. Scientists at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center and an university in Brazil report seroprevalence of N. caninum in capybaras in Brazil for the first time..The results will be of interest to biologists, parasitologists, and veterinarians.

Technical Abstract: Capybara (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris) is a large rodent distributed throughout tropical America. Antibodies to Neospora caninum in 213 feral capybaras from 11 counties of the State of São Paulo, Brazil were assessed using the indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (titer '1:25) and found in 20 (9.4%) with titers of 1:25 in 4, of 1:50 in 7, and 1:100 in 9 animals. This is the first report of occurrence of N. caninum antibodies in capybaras.