Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Risk factors for Neospora caninum infection in dogs in Minas Gerais
By Nogueira, C I et al.·Published in Epidemiology and infection·2013·Departamento de Medicina Veterinaria, Brazil·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Risk factors associated with seroprevalence of Neospora caninum in dogs from urban and rural areas of milk and coffee production in Minas Gerais state, Brazil.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that 80 out of 703 dogs tested positive for Neospora caninum, a parasite that can cause serious health issues. Dogs over 4 years old, those used as guard dogs, and those that hunt were at higher risk of infection, especially in rural areas where they might come into contact with cattle. Factors like not being fed commercial food and living on milk farms also increased the likelihood of testing positive. If your dog shows symptoms like lethargy or neurological issues, it’s important to talk to your vet about testing for this parasite.
People also search for: dog Neospora caninum symptoms · how to prevent dog parasite infections · guard dog health risks
Abstract
This study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies and to investigate the risk factors related to seroprevalence in dogs from urban and rural areas with distinct economic activities (milk and coffee production) in Minas Gerais state, Brazil. For this purpose, blood samples from 703 dogs were collected and questionnaires addressing epidemiological aspects were completed by dog-owners. The sera were analysed for anti-N. caninum antibodies by indirect fluorescent antibody tests (IFAT ≥ 1:50). Association between epidemiological aspects and seropositivity in dogs was evaluated with multivariate logistic regression models. A total of 80 (11·4%) dogs tested positive for N. caninum. In the multivariate logistic regression models, dogs aged >4 years, dogs used as guard dogs, dogs that spontaneously hunt, and history of bovine abortion were found to be greater risk factors for canine N. caninum infection. When we considered only dogs from rural areas, an association with seroprevalence was seen for milk farms, dogs not fed with commercial food, dogs that hunt, and dogs used as guard dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23419686/