Anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in feral cats on the Island of Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

作者：Viegas de Lima Debora Costa; Rodrigues Magalhaes Fernando Jorge; Andrade Muller Ribeiro; da Silva Jose Givanildo; Ferrer de Morais Eduardo Guelfer; Ferreira de Lima Filho Carlos Diogenes; Nascimento Porto Wagner Jose; Mota Rinaldo Aparecido

来源：Acta Parasitologica, 2018, 63(3): 645-646.

DOI：10.1515/ap-2018-0074

• Felis catus
• neosporosis
• Neospora agglutination test
• serology

Neospora caninum is a protozoan responsible for abortions, stillbirths (mainly among cattle) and neuromuscular diseases in dogs. Its importance in wild species and its impact on the environmental preservation of different ecosystems have been little described. This study aimed to investigate the presence of anti-N. caninum antibodies in feral cats on the island of Fernando de Noronha and contribute epidemiological data on this disease in these animals and its impact on the environmental preservation of the island. Serum samples from 257 feral cats on the island were analyzed through the Neospora agglutination test (NAT) to search for anti-Neospora caninum antibodies. Among the 257 serum samples analyzed, 8 (3.11%) were positive in the NAT. The antibody titers were 20 in seven animals (87.5%) and 40 in one animal (12.5%). These results demonstrate that feral cats are exposed to infection by N. caninum on the island of Fernando de Noronha, at a low frequency. Greater knowledge on this infection in this animal species in this insular environment is important for elucidating its impact on the conservation of species and the maintenance of this parasite on the island.

• 出版日期2018-9