• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.677-681
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• 2003

Currently, both the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) have been used to detect Neospora caninum antibodies. Several factors such as the buffers, the conjugate, the pattern of fluorescence, and the cross reactivity with other apicornplexan protozoan, may result in poorly correlated data. The present study was undertaken to develop and evaluate the Neospora agglutination test (NAT) for the detection and quantification of IgG antibodies to N. caninum from various animal species. Compared to the ELISA method, the NAT with a cutoff value of 1:512 gave a high index of coincidence (kappa=0.807) and no cross reactivity to Toxoplasma gondii antiserum. Hence, this NAT method, which did not require a species-specific secondary antibody and expensive tools, would be easily available for the detection of antibodies to N. caninllm of various animal species.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.243-245
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• 2003

Neospora caninum is an important cause of abortion in cattle, and dogs are its only known definitive host. Its seroprevalence among domestic urban and rural dogs and feral raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides koreensis) in Korea was studied by indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and by the neospora agglutination test (NAT), respectively. Antibodies to N. caninum were found in 8.3% of urban dogs and in 21.6% of dogs at dairy farms. Antibody titers ranged from 1:50 to 1:400. Antibodies to N. caninum were found in six (23%) of 26 raccoon dogs. However, the potential role of raccoon dogs as a source of horizontal transmission of bovine neosporosis needs further investigation. The results of this study suggest that there is a close relationship between N. caninum infection among dairy farm dogs and cattle in Korea. This study reports for the first time upon the seroprevalence of N. caninum infection in raccoon dogs in Korea.