Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Neospora caninum infection rates and risks in dogs in rural northeast
By Gao, Xiang & Wang, Hongbin·Published in Parasite (Paris, France)·2019·Department of Veterinary Surgery, China·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Seroprevalence and risk factors for Neospora caninum infection in dogs in rural northeastern mainland China.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 476 dogs in rural northeastern China was tested for Neospora caninum, a parasite that can cause serious health issues. About 20% of the dogs had antibodies indicating they had been infected, with higher rates found in mixed breeds, former strays, hunting dogs, and those living on cattle farms. Feeding dogs raw meat also increased the risk of infection. The study suggests that dogs on cattle farms are particularly at risk, likely due to close contact with infected cattle. Understanding these risks can help veterinarians diagnose and treat affected dogs more effectively.
People also search for: dog Neospora caninum infection · symptoms of dog parasite infection · feeding raw meat to dogs risks · mixed breed dog health issues · dog health problems on cattle farms
Abstract
Although Neospora caninum is an important veterinary pathogen, veterinarians in various areas including in Mainland China lack a full understanding of neosporosis distribution in dog populations. This study aims to determine the emergence of anti-N. caninum antibodies in canine populations classified based on breeders, herdsmen, and huntsmen in northeast mainland China. In addition, the risk factors associated with seropositivity were explored. An indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) was performed on canine serum to determine seroprevalence. Logistic regression models were used to collect and analyze individual and management data, in order to determine high-reliability predictors of seroprevalence as well as the level of anti-N. caninum antibodies. Among the 476 dogs tested, 95 (20%) were seropositive. Mixed breed (OR 1.53), former strays (OR 1.38), dogs living on cattle farms (OR 2.30), hunting dogs (OR 1.22) as well as raw meat feeding (OR 1.66) were correlated (p < 0.05) with N. caninum infection. Interestingly, the seropositivity of dogs on cattle farms was higher (28%) than that of those (24.8%) living in breeding facilities (p < 0.05). A large number of seropositive dogs were found on cattle farms in the study region, suggesting horizontal transmission between dogs and cattle. Therefore, this source of infection should be studied further, and should be a strong consideration in differential diagnoses of dogs raised on cattle farms.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31145075/