Seroprevalence of Neospora caninum in swamp buffaloes and beef cattle in the north-east of Thailand

Abstract

A seroepidemiological survey was carried out to investigate seroprevalence of Neospora caninum in swamp buffaloes from five provinces in north-eastern Thailand, and to compare infection status in swamp buffaloes and beef cattle at one area of Thailand. A single serum sample was collected from each of 532 swamp buffaloes and 78 beef cattle during January and July 2009. Antibodies against N. caninum were analyzed by a commercial ELISA test. Chisquare tests were used to compare the seroprevalence between species, gender and age groups in Khon Kaen. Result showed that infection prevalence in swamp buffaloes in northeastern Thailand was 4.5%. At one area in Khon Kaen province, proportions of seropositive swamp buffaloes and beef cattle were 6.4% and 43.6%, respectively, with significant difference (p<0.001). In both species, gender and age had no significant effects on the N. caninum infection status. The present study indicated that seroprevalence of N. caninum infection in swamp buffaloes in northeastern Thailand was low, and also suggested that swamp buffaloes were more resistant to N. caninum than beef cattle.