Neosporosis in water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) in southern Italy

A study was carried on 1377 water buffalo serum samples from 50 farms in so uthern Italy to test the presence of Neospora caninum antibodies by indirec t fluorescence antibody test (IFAT). Rabbit anti-buffalo immunoglobulins co njugated to fluorescein were used in the test. Fluorescence in sera dilutio ns above 1:200 was considered as indicative of the presence of N. caninum a ntibodies. The overall prevalence of infection in the animals was 34.6%. Th e prevalence increased in relation to the age of subjects and most of the h erds examined (82%) were found infected. In two farms abortions and neurolo gical signs were reported. No suppurative inflammatory lesions were seen, b ut few protozoan-like cysts were observed on foetal tissues by histology. ( C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.