Korean J Parasitol.  2009 Dec;47(4):417-420. 10.3347/kjp.2009.47.4.417.

Fecal and Molecular Survey of Neospora caninum in Farm and Household Dogs in Mashhad Area, Khorasan Province, Iran

• Razmi G

• KMID: 1720648
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2009.47.4.417

Abstract

Neospora caninum is an important cause of abortion in dairy cattle worldwide. Dog is the definitive host for N. caninum and can infect dairy cattle. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of Neospora oocysts in feces of dogs from dairy farms. A total of 174 fecal samples was collected from 89 farm dogs and 85 household dogs during 2006 and 2008. Fecal samples of dogs were microscopically examined for detecting Hammondia Neospora-like oocysts (HNLO) by Mini Parasep(R)SF fecal parasite concentrator. HNLO were microscopically detected in 4 fecal samples (2.2%). The fecal samples with HNLO were examined by N. caninum-specific PCR. Two of the samples were positive for N. caninum. The 2 positive fecal samples were selected for inoculation to calves. Two inoculated calves were seronegative by ELISA for 4 months post-infection. This is the first report of finding N. caninum DNA in feces of farm dogs in Mashhad area, Iran.

Keyword

Neospora caninum; oocyst; dog; Iran

MeSH Terms

Animals
Antibodies, Fungal/blood
Cattle
Cattle Diseases/immunology/parasitology
Coccidiosis/epidemiology/parasitology/*veterinary
DNA, Fungal/genetics/isolation & purification
Dog Diseases/*epidemiology/*parasitology
Dogs
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/methods
Feces/*microbiology
Iran/epidemiology
Male
Microscopy/methods
Neospora/*genetics/*isolation & purification
Oocysts/cytology
Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods
Prevalence