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ARS Home » Plains Area » Kerrville, Texas » Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory » Cattle Fever Tick Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #376575
Research Project: Integrated Pest Management of Cattle Fever Ticks

Location: Cattle Fever Tick Research Unit

Title: Serosurveillance and risk factors for Neospora caninum infection in water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) from central and southern Mexico

Author
item SALGUERO-ROMERO, JOSE - University Of Veracruzana
item ROMERO-SALAS, DORA - University Of Veracruzana
item CRUZ-ROMERO, ANABEL - University Of Veracruzana
item ALONSO-DIAZ, MIGUEL - Autonomous National University Of Mexico
item AGUILAR-DOMINGUEZ, MARIEL - University Of Veracruzana
item SANCHEZ-MONTES, SOKANI - University Of Veracruzana
item LAMMOGLIA VILLAGOMEZ, MIGUEL - University Of Veracruzana
item CHAPARRO-GUTIERREZ, JENNY - University Of Veracruzana
item NOGUEIRA DOMINGUES, LUISA - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA)
item Perez De Leon, Adalberto - Beto
item Dubey, Jitender

Submitted to: Veterinary Parasitology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/6/2021
Publication Date: 9/8/2021
Citation: Salguero-Romero, J.L., Romero-Salas, D., Cruz-Romero, A., Alonso-Diaz, M.A., Aguilar-Dominguez, M., Sanchez-Montes, S., Lammoglia Villagomez, M.A., Chaparro-Gutierrez, J.J., Nogueira Domingues, L., Perez De Leon, A.A., Dubey, J.P. 2021. Serosurveillance and risk factors for Neospora caninum infection in water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) from central and southern Mexico. Veterinary Parasitology. 26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2021.100631.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2021.100631

Interpretive Summary: Water buffaloes present an alternative to cattle ranching in parts of Mexico. Our group has studied the parasites and infectious agents of water buffaloes. However, knowledge gaps remain on the epidemiology of some of the diseases caused by those parasites and infectious agents. In this study we investigated the presence of antibodies against the parasite Neospora caninum, which is known to cause abortion in livestock, among herds of water buffaloes in the central and southern parts of Veracruz state in Mexico. Risk factors for infection with N. caninum were identified through the analysis of the epidemiological data. This information can be used to develop integrated parasite management practices that prevent N. caninum infection in water buffaloes raised in central and southern Mexico.

Technical Abstract: The water buffalo ( Bubalus bubalis ) is an alternative to cattle ranching in several regions of southern Mexico. Here we report seroprevalence and risk factors associated with the abortifacient protozoan parasite Neospora caninum in water buffaloes in six buffalo production units (BPU), in municipalities from center and southern Veracruz, Mexico. Antibodies to N. caninum were assessed in serum samples of 543 buffaloes by a commercial ELISA: 44.8% (243/543; 95% CI 40.5-49.0) were seropositive. Questionnaires were used to collect epidemiological data, and to identify risk factors associated with N. caninum infection. When analyzed by age category, older buffaloes ( > 7 year) exhibited the highest seroprevalence for neosporosis 62.3% (38/61; 95% CI 49.7-73.4) ( P = 0.05). Buffaloes that were in close contact with cattle had higher seroprevalence 47.6% (168/353; 95% CI 42.3-52.9) ( P < 0.01) than those that were not in contact 36.8% (70/190; 95% IC 30.0-44.1). Our findings provide important information to implement preventive measures in the buffalo farms.