Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of Neospora caninum antibodies and its effects on reproductive parameters in cows in intensive dairy herds in Dakar. Randomised blood samples were taken for serology from 196 cows in four herds with a history of sporadic abortion. All of the sera were assayed for antibodies against N. caninum, Candida guillermondii, Coxiella burnetii, and Chlamydophila sp. The associations between serostatus and reproductive parameters (abortion, number of inseminations to conception, and calving to conception interval) were assessed over a period of 5 years (2004–2008). The seroprevalence of N. caninum antibodies in dairy cattle was 17.9%. The local Gobra breed and crossbreeds had higher levels of N. caninum antibodies than exotic breeds (p < 0.05). For the most recent pregnancies, seropositive cows required more inseminations to establish conception than seronegative cows (p < 0.05). The results indicate that dairy cattle from Dakar are exposed to N. caninum. Neosporosis should, therefore, be systematically considered as a cause when the calving to conception interval is prolonged.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank veterinarian of the herds and all of the farmers who contributed data for this study. Furthermore, we would like to thank Professor Daniel Tainturier, head of the Department of Reproductive Pathology of Nantes National Veterinary School (France), for allowing us to use their facilities and for providing technical assistance during the study.
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Kamga-Waladjo, A.R., Gbati, O.B., Kone, P. et al. Seroprevalence of Neospora caninum antibodies and its consequences for reproductive parameters in dairy cows from Dakar–Senegal, West Africa. Trop Anim Health Prod 42, 953–959 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-009-9513-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-009-9513-6