Neospora caninum and other agents in aborted fetuses of dairy cattle in the Lima Valley

© 2000 Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. All rights reserved. The possible role of Neospora caninum and other abortogenic infectious agents in dairy cattle abortions was evaluated utilizing samples collected from 9 herds in the Lima Valley between January 1998 and December 1999. Heart, liver, lung, muscle, thymus, spleen, adrenal gland, brain and thoracic fluid samples were taken from 29 aborted 3-7 month gestation fetuses, and serum samples were collected from their mothers. The presence of anti gens and antibodies against N. caninum, bovine cliarrhea virus (BVDV), Bruce/la abortus and Leptospira was determined utilizing immunoperoxidase, immunofluorescence, virus neutralisation, indirect ELISA and microaglutination tests respectively. One half ofthe tissue samples were fixed for histopathological examination. Of the aborted fetuses, 55.2% (16/29) and 20.6% (6/29) were positive to N. caninum antigen and BVDV. N. caninum antibodies with titers between 1 :20 and 1 :40 were detected in three of the fetuses, but no antibodies against BVDV or Leptospira were found. Antibodies against N. caninum and BVDV were detected in 62% ( 18/29) and 72.4% (21/ 29) of the aborted cows. No antibodies against either Bruce/la abortus or the Leptospira serovars canicola, pomo na, icterohemorrhagiae, and hardjo were detected. Two of the fetuses had histopathological lesions (moderate inflammation with small areas of necrotic tissue in the brain, heart, muscle and thymus tissues) similar to those described in the literature. The high prevalence of N. caninum antigen in fetuses from positive cows and the moderate presence of BVDV contrasts with the absence of other abortogenic agents, strongly suggesting an association of N. caninum with the high incidence of abortion in dairy cows from the Lima Valley.