Prevalência de anticorpos IGG anti-neospora Spp. em equinos no Recôncavo da Bahia

Abstract

Neosporosis is a parasitic disease first described in the mid-80, is caused by an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite. Neospora sp. is an important agent reported as responsible for abortions, especially in cattle, causing great economic losses in livestock. Two species have been described in this genus, N. caninum that affects a wide variety of mammals and N. hughesi isolated only in horses. Knowing the risk factors for the development of neosporosis are crucial to the study of this disease. The prevalence of anti-Neospora spp IgG antibodies was verified worldwide, indicating that seropositive horses have been found on all continents. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of antibodies IgG anti-Neospora spp. and list the risk factors associated with the disease in the Recôncavo da Bahia. Serum samples from 234 healthy horses withought history of reproductive and neurological changes were submitted to indirect immunofluorescence test (IFAT), where titles ranged from 1:50 to 1: 800. In the cutoff 1:50 antibodies IgG anti-Neospora spp were detected in 106 (45.30%) animals. Serum samples were tested in folded dilutions up to no more reaction. There was a seropositivity of 38.03% (89/234) in titer of 1: 100; 21.79% (51/234) in the titer of 1: 200; 4.70% (11/234) in 1: 400 and 0.42% (1/234) in the 1: 800. There was no positive correlation between the study variables and seropositivity. However there was a probability of occurrence of neosporosis in animals younger than five years old as well as those cross breed. However, according to the results found in this study there was a high prevalence of antibodies IgG anti-Neospora spp. in the Recôncavo da Bahia.