SEROPREVALENCE OF ANTIBODIES TO NEOSPORA-CANINUM AND TOXOPLASMA-GONDII IN WATER-BUFFALOS (BUBALUS-BUBALIS) FROM EGYPT

Sera from 75 water buffaloes from Egypt were examined using a direct a gglutination test incorporating mercaptoethanol for antibodies to Neos pora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii. Antibodies to N. caninum were foun d in 51 (68%) of 75 buffaloes in titres of 1:20 (six buffaloes), 1:40 (15 buffaloes), 1:160 (one buffalo), 1:320 (one buffalo) and greater t han or equal to 1:640 (28 buffaloes), using N. caninum formalin-preser ved whole tachyzoites as antigen. Antibodies to T. gondii were not fou nd in a 1:100 dilution of serum of any of the 75 buffaloes, using T. g ondii as antigen, indicating specificity in the detection of antibodie s to N. caninum. This is the first report of N. caninum prevalence in water buffaloes, which are economically very important domestic animal s in developing countries. (C) 1998 Australian Society for Parasitolog y. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.