Epidemiology of Bovine Neosporosis in Relation to Socioeconomic, Demographic, and Transmissibility Factors in Dual-Purpose Production Systems in Colombia

Introduction: Bovine neosporosis represents a significant threat to reproduction and production in livestock systems worldwide. This disease is caused by the protozoan <i>Neospora caninum</i>, resulting in abortions of cows and neurological signs in newborn calves. This leads to signific...

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Main Authors: Cesar A. Murcia-Mono, Sergio Falla-Tapias, Britney K. Cabrera-Ospina, Jahir O. Vargas-Domínguez, William O. Burgos-Paz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Epidemiologia
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-3986/5/4/56
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author Cesar A. Murcia-Mono
Sergio Falla-Tapias
Britney K. Cabrera-Ospina
Jahir O. Vargas-Domínguez
William O. Burgos-Paz
author_facet Cesar A. Murcia-Mono
Sergio Falla-Tapias
Britney K. Cabrera-Ospina
Jahir O. Vargas-Domínguez
William O. Burgos-Paz
author_sort Cesar A. Murcia-Mono
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Bovine neosporosis represents a significant threat to reproduction and production in livestock systems worldwide. This disease is caused by the protozoan <i>Neospora caninum</i>, resulting in abortions of cows and neurological signs in newborn calves. This leads to significant economic losses, decreasing meat and milk production, especially in tropical regions. The infection has an endogenous and exogenous cycle of transmission involving dogs that shed the oocysts, with the highest transmission successes in humid areas. Similarly, there is a lack of knowledge about the epidemiological risk factors and management practices involved in the transmission success in tropical humid regions. Methods: In this sense, a cross-sectional epidemiological survey was conducted on 150 farms from 24 municipalities of the Huila area. A total of 360 cattle were sampled, and information about the production system was collected using a structured poll with 128 questions. Results: In these cattle, 53% (191/360) were positive for antibodies against <i>Neospora caninum</i> using ELISA. The logistic regression analysis using the information collected from the poll identified the presence of flooring type, water access, production systems, and feed management as risk factors. Among the protective factors were identified the geographical area, molasses supplementation, and biosecurity practices such as animal separation and access control. Discussion: This study identified for the first time the epidemiological risk factors associated mainly with the exogenous cycle of neosporosis. The present study contributes to the design of intervention strategies oriented to minimize the impact of parasitism in Colombian herds.
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spelling doaj-art-76324cfd62f3460d9dc30e8a9cc34b5f2025-08-20T02:53:38ZengMDPI AGEpidemiologia2673-39862024-12-015482883710.3390/epidemiologia5040056Epidemiology of Bovine Neosporosis in Relation to Socioeconomic, Demographic, and Transmissibility Factors in Dual-Purpose Production Systems in ColombiaCesar A. Murcia-Mono0Sergio Falla-Tapias1Britney K. Cabrera-Ospina2Jahir O. Vargas-Domínguez3William O. Burgos-Paz4Semillero de Investigación CIETVET, Programa de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Ciencias Afines, Corporación Universitaria del Huila CORHUILA, Neiva 410010, ColombiaSemillero de Investigación CIETVET, Programa de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Ciencias Afines, Corporación Universitaria del Huila CORHUILA, Neiva 410010, ColombiaSemillero de Investigación CIETVET, Programa de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Ciencias Afines, Corporación Universitaria del Huila CORHUILA, Neiva 410010, ColombiaCentro de Investigación Tibaitatá, Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria AGROSAVIA, Mosquera 250047, ColombiaCentro de Investigación Turipaná, Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria AGROSAVIA, km 13 vía Montería, Cereté 230550, ColombiaIntroduction: Bovine neosporosis represents a significant threat to reproduction and production in livestock systems worldwide. This disease is caused by the protozoan <i>Neospora caninum</i>, resulting in abortions of cows and neurological signs in newborn calves. This leads to significant economic losses, decreasing meat and milk production, especially in tropical regions. The infection has an endogenous and exogenous cycle of transmission involving dogs that shed the oocysts, with the highest transmission successes in humid areas. Similarly, there is a lack of knowledge about the epidemiological risk factors and management practices involved in the transmission success in tropical humid regions. Methods: In this sense, a cross-sectional epidemiological survey was conducted on 150 farms from 24 municipalities of the Huila area. A total of 360 cattle were sampled, and information about the production system was collected using a structured poll with 128 questions. Results: In these cattle, 53% (191/360) were positive for antibodies against <i>Neospora caninum</i> using ELISA. The logistic regression analysis using the information collected from the poll identified the presence of flooring type, water access, production systems, and feed management as risk factors. Among the protective factors were identified the geographical area, molasses supplementation, and biosecurity practices such as animal separation and access control. Discussion: This study identified for the first time the epidemiological risk factors associated mainly with the exogenous cycle of neosporosis. The present study contributes to the design of intervention strategies oriented to minimize the impact of parasitism in Colombian herds.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-3986/5/4/56abortionbiosecurity practicesepidemiologicalrisk factors
spellingShingle Cesar A. Murcia-Mono
Sergio Falla-Tapias
Britney K. Cabrera-Ospina
Jahir O. Vargas-Domínguez
William O. Burgos-Paz
Epidemiology of Bovine Neosporosis in Relation to Socioeconomic, Demographic, and Transmissibility Factors in Dual-Purpose Production Systems in Colombia
Epidemiologia
abortion
biosecurity practices
epidemiological
risk factors
title Epidemiology of Bovine Neosporosis in Relation to Socioeconomic, Demographic, and Transmissibility Factors in Dual-Purpose Production Systems in Colombia
title_full Epidemiology of Bovine Neosporosis in Relation to Socioeconomic, Demographic, and Transmissibility Factors in Dual-Purpose Production Systems in Colombia
title_fullStr Epidemiology of Bovine Neosporosis in Relation to Socioeconomic, Demographic, and Transmissibility Factors in Dual-Purpose Production Systems in Colombia
title_full_unstemmed Epidemiology of Bovine Neosporosis in Relation to Socioeconomic, Demographic, and Transmissibility Factors in Dual-Purpose Production Systems in Colombia
title_short Epidemiology of Bovine Neosporosis in Relation to Socioeconomic, Demographic, and Transmissibility Factors in Dual-Purpose Production Systems in Colombia
title_sort epidemiology of bovine neosporosis in relation to socioeconomic demographic and transmissibility factors in dual purpose production systems in colombia
topic abortion
biosecurity practices
epidemiological
risk factors
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-3986/5/4/56
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