Molecular detection of neospora caninum from naturally infected dogs in Van Province, East Turkey

Abstract

Neospora caninum is a coccidian parasite causing abortion in cattle and neurological problems in horses. Dogs are definitive hosts of N. caninum. Polymerase chain reaction is the most specific method used for the detection of N. caninum oocytes. In the present study, a total of 100 fecal samples were collected from naturally infected dogs. Of the 100 samples analyzed, 11 of them were detected with Hammondia/Neospora-like oocytes. Genomic DNA was isolated using a commercially available DNA extraction kit. The Nc5 gene specific to N. caninum was amplified by PCR and two of the eleven samples with Hammondia/Neospora-like oocytes formed ~337 bp repeatable band. In conclusion, N. caninum, which has been shown to cause neurological disorders in dogs and to abortion in cattle, was detected in naturally infected dogs in Van Province in Polymerase chain reaction.