Molecular Confirmation of Neospora caninum as the Etiological Agent of Abortion in a Dairy Cattle Herd in Qazvin Province, Iran.
- 1Department of Veterinary Pathobiology Sciences, Science and Research Campus SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
- 2Department of Veterinary Medicine, Science and Research Campus SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
Background
Neospora caninum, a cyst-producing parasite is identified as one of the main causes of reproductive failure in cattle worldwide. Neosporosis results in increased rates of abortion and reduced milk production, leading to financial losses. This study aimed to identify Neospora caninum infection in aborted cattle and their fetuses, at a dairy cattle farm, focusing on the involvement of stray dogs in spreading the agent within the herd.Methods
During a three-month investigation in 2023, twenty-one cattle in a farm in Qazvin Province, Iran, showed abortion at 2, 4, 5, and 7 months of pregnancy, while stray dogs had free access to various sections of the farm. Serum samples were collected from each of the aborted dams. Seven aborted fetuses, along with two placentas, were also transported to the laboratory in frozen ice packs for testing for N. caninum. The fetal and placenta samples underwent examination through molecular assessment.Results
Anti-Neospora antibodies were detected in the sera of 7 out of 21 cattle, corresponding to a seroprevalence rate of 33.3%. Among these, three out of seven aborted fetuses tested positive for Neospora via real-time PCR, all of derived from seropositive cattle. Neospora caninum was not detected in any of the placental samples examined.Conclusion
N. caninum significantly influences the occurrence of abortions in dairy cattle. Although transmission of infection from an infected dam to a fetus is the most prominent route of the disease transmission, the proximity of stray dogs to cattle herds plays a key role in increasing number of infected cases.
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BibTeX
@article{hamedi2026molecular,
title = {{Molecular Confirmation of Neospora caninum as the Etiological Agent of Abortion in a Dairy Cattle Herd in Qazvin Province, Iran.}},
author = {Mona Hamedi and Hanieh Rezaei and Delnavaz Nazari and Fatemeh Zahra Roostaei and Kiana Beirami},
journal = {Iranian journal of parasitology},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.18502/ijpa.v21i3.22596},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42974493},
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Molecular Confirmation of Neospora caninum as the Etiological Agent of Abortion in a Dairy Cattle Herd in Qazvin Province, Iran.
AU - Mona Hamedi
AU - Hanieh Rezaei
AU - Delnavaz Nazari
AU - Fatemeh Zahra Roostaei
AU - Kiana Beirami
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - Iranian journal of parasitology
DO - 10.18502/ijpa.v21i3.22596
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42974493
AB - Background Neospora caninum, a cyst-producing parasite is identified as one of the main causes of reproductive failure in cattle worldwide. Neosporosis results in increased rates of abortion and reduced milk production, leading to financial losses. This study aimed to identify Neospora caninum infection in aborted cattle and their fetuses, at a dairy cattle farm, focusing on the involvement of stray dogs in spreading the agent within the herd.Methods During a three-month investigation in 2023, twenty-one cattle in a farm in Qazvin Province, Iran, showed abortion at 2, 4, 5, and 7 months of pregnancy, while stray dogs had free access to various sections of the farm. Serum samples were collected from each of the aborted dams. Seven aborted fetuses, along with two placentas, were also transported to the laboratory in frozen ice packs for testing for N. caninum. The fetal and placenta samples underwent examination through molecular assessment.Results Anti-Neospora antibodies were detected in the sera of 7 out of 21 cattle, corresponding to a seroprevalence rate of 33.3%. Among these, three out of seven aborted fetuses tested positive for Neospora via real-time PCR, all of derived from seropositive cattle. Neospora caninum was not detected in any of the placental samples examined.Conclusion N. caninum significantly influences the occurrence of abortions in dairy cattle. Although transmission of infection from an infected dam to a fetus is the most prominent route of the disease transmission, the proximity of stray dogs to cattle herds plays a key role in increasing number of infected cases.
SN - 1735-7020
SN - 2008-238X
ER -