Prevalence of antibodies to Neospora caninum in dogs from Amazon, Brazil.

ABSTRACT

Neospora caninum is an important cause of abortion in dairy cattle worldwide. Dogs are important in the epidemiology of this parasite because they are the only hosts known to excrete N. caninum oocysts. Antibodies to N. caninum were assayed in serum samples from 157 dogs from Monte Negro, Rondônia, Amazon, Brazil using the indirect fluorescent antibody test. Antibodies to N. caninum were found in 13 (8.3%) of dogs in titers of 150 in 1, 1100 in 2, 1200 in 5, 1800 in 1, 11600 in 2, and 13200 in 2 dogs. These data indicate that N. caninum infection is prevalent even in remote areas of the Amazon.