Neospora caninum in beef herds in New South Wales, Australia. 2: analysis of risk factors. Issue 4 (April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Moloney, BJ; Heuer, C; Kirkland, PD
• Is Part Of: Australian veterinary journal. Volume 95:Issue 4(2017)
• Page Start: 101
• Page End: 109
• Publication Date: 2017-04
• Subjects: Australia -- beef cattle -- correspondence analysis -- Neospora caninum -- risk factors; seroprevalence; Veterinary medicine -- Australia -- Periodicals; Veterinary medicine -- Periodicals; Veterinary Medicine -- Periodicals; 636.089
• DOI: 10.1111/avj.12563
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0005-0423

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: To determine the influence of farm‐level and animal‐level factors on the seroprevalence of antibodies to Neospora caninum and associations between seropositivity and reproductive outcomes. Methods: A questionnaire for a cross‐sectional survey was posted to the 63 properties with a herd size ≥50 beef breeding cows that had participated in a previous seroprevalence study. Correspondence analysis, which does not appear to have been used previously in any Australian studies of livestock diseases, was used in conjunction with logistic regression to analyse the data. Results: Geographic factors that increased the risk of seropositivity included higher rainfall North Coast location. Herd management factors that increased the risk of seropositivity included the use of Bos indicus genetics, cross‐breeding and running several breeds in the one herd. Using fox control measures was found to be protective against infection with N. caninum . The risk of abortion was 12‐fold greater in individual animals that were seropositive for N. caninum. Within a herd, the calving rate was 10.4% lower in herds with one or more N. caninum ‐positive animals (P = 0.03), but the difference in abortion rate was not significant between seropositive and seronegative herds (0.3% higher, P > 0.3). Conclusions: This study confirmed previous observations of increased risks for N. caninum seropositivity with being located in the coastal subtropics, some styles of herd management and canid exposure. In addition, it suggested that cross‐breeding and proximity to an urban area may increase the risk, and that having pet dogs may reduce the risk of seropositivity.