Seroprevalence study of bovine neosporosis in Mexico

An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, was used to obtain epidemiol ogic information on bovine neosporosis in dairy herds of the Mexican centra l plateau. Sera were collected from 1,003 cows from 50 dairy herds. Forty-t hree herds (group A) had been experiencing a high abortion rate. The aborti on rates for the remaining 7 herds (group B) were within normal limits for Mexico. Five-hundred sixty-one (56%) of the 1,003 sera were positive. The s eroprevalence of Neospora caninum antibodies was 72% (95% CI = 68-75%) in g roup A and 36% (95% CI = 31-40%) in group B. These results clearly show tha t infection with N. caninum is widespread in Mexican dairy herds, as indica ted by seropositive cows in group A and group B herds at the time of the sa mple collection.