Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> and <i>Neospora caninum</i> in Cattle in Portugal
<i>Neospora caninum</i> has a worldwide economic impact as an important cause of abortion in cattle, while <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i>, another abortifacient pathogen, is globally a major foodborne zoonotic threat. The study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence and risk factors...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-08-01
|
| Series: | Animals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/16/2080 |
| _version_ | 1797411540150779904 |
|---|---|
| author | Helga Waap Andrea Bärwald Telmo Nunes Gereon Schares |
| author_facet | Helga Waap Andrea Bärwald Telmo Nunes Gereon Schares |
| author_sort | Helga Waap |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Neospora caninum</i> has a worldwide economic impact as an important cause of abortion in cattle, while <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i>, another abortifacient pathogen, is globally a major foodborne zoonotic threat. The study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence and risk factors for the two parasites in cattle in Portugal. A total of 612 sera from 35 farms were tested by an in-house p30 ELISA for <i>T. gondii</i> and p38 ELISA for <i>N. caninum. T. gondii</i> positive and suspicious sera were confirmed by p30 Western blot or IFAT. <i>T. gondii</i> and <i>N. caninum</i> animal seroprevalence was 9.2% (95%CI 7.1–11.7) and 17.2% (95% CI 14.4–20.4) and herd seroprevalence was 51.4% (95% CI 35.6–67.0) and 68.6% (95% CI 52.0–81.5), respectively. At the univariable level, climate area and precipitation of wettest month, driest month, driest quarter, and warmest quarter were significant predictors of seropositivity for both. <i>N. caninum</i> seropositivity was more likely in the region Norte, densely populated areas, and intensive production, and the probability of <i>T. gondii</i> seropositivity decreased with herd size. Results confirm the need to consider neosporosis in the differential diagnosis of cattle reproductive disorders in Portugal and may be valuable to inform source attribution models for human toxoplasmosis. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:47:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-159e3deeecb84e42bc923d30eec9996d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:47:33Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-159e3deeecb84e42bc923d30eec9996d2023-12-03T13:13:22ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152022-08-011216208010.3390/ani12162080Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> and <i>Neospora caninum</i> in Cattle in PortugalHelga Waap0Andrea Bärwald1Telmo Nunes2Gereon Schares3Laboratório de Parasitologia, Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária, Av. da República, Quinta do Marquês, 2780-157 Oeiras, PortugalFriedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Institute of Epidemiology, 17493 Greifswald, Insel Riems, GermanyCentre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, 1300-477 Lisboa, PortugalFriedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Institute of Epidemiology, 17493 Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany<i>Neospora caninum</i> has a worldwide economic impact as an important cause of abortion in cattle, while <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i>, another abortifacient pathogen, is globally a major foodborne zoonotic threat. The study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence and risk factors for the two parasites in cattle in Portugal. A total of 612 sera from 35 farms were tested by an in-house p30 ELISA for <i>T. gondii</i> and p38 ELISA for <i>N. caninum. T. gondii</i> positive and suspicious sera were confirmed by p30 Western blot or IFAT. <i>T. gondii</i> and <i>N. caninum</i> animal seroprevalence was 9.2% (95%CI 7.1–11.7) and 17.2% (95% CI 14.4–20.4) and herd seroprevalence was 51.4% (95% CI 35.6–67.0) and 68.6% (95% CI 52.0–81.5), respectively. At the univariable level, climate area and precipitation of wettest month, driest month, driest quarter, and warmest quarter were significant predictors of seropositivity for both. <i>N. caninum</i> seropositivity was more likely in the region Norte, densely populated areas, and intensive production, and the probability of <i>T. gondii</i> seropositivity decreased with herd size. Results confirm the need to consider neosporosis in the differential diagnosis of cattle reproductive disorders in Portugal and may be valuable to inform source attribution models for human toxoplasmosis.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/16/2080<i>Toxoplasma gondii</i><i>Neospora caninum</i>cattlePortugalseroprevalencerisk factors |
| spellingShingle | Helga Waap Andrea Bärwald Telmo Nunes Gereon Schares Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> and <i>Neospora caninum</i> in Cattle in Portugal Animals <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> <i>Neospora caninum</i> cattle Portugal seroprevalence risk factors |
| title | Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> and <i>Neospora caninum</i> in Cattle in Portugal |
| title_full | Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> and <i>Neospora caninum</i> in Cattle in Portugal |
| title_fullStr | Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> and <i>Neospora caninum</i> in Cattle in Portugal |
| title_full_unstemmed | Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> and <i>Neospora caninum</i> in Cattle in Portugal |
| title_short | Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> and <i>Neospora caninum</i> in Cattle in Portugal |
| title_sort | seroprevalence and risk factors for i toxoplasma gondii i and i neospora caninum i in cattle in portugal |
| topic | <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> <i>Neospora caninum</i> cattle Portugal seroprevalence risk factors |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/16/2080 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT helgawaap seroprevalenceandriskfactorsforitoxoplasmagondiiiandineosporacaninumiincattleinportugal AT andreabarwald seroprevalenceandriskfactorsforitoxoplasmagondiiiandineosporacaninumiincattleinportugal AT telmonunes seroprevalenceandriskfactorsforitoxoplasmagondiiiandineosporacaninumiincattleinportugal AT gereonschares seroprevalenceandriskfactorsforitoxoplasmagondiiiandineosporacaninumiincattleinportugal |