Pathological and Molecular Studies of Neospora caninum Infection in Aborted Bovine Foetuses in Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran

ABSTRACT Background Neospora caninum is an obligate intracellular protozoan that is well established as a causative agent of abortion in dairy cattle worldwide. Objectives The objective of this study was to determine the role of N. caninum infection in the abortion in dairy cattle in the Khorasan Ra...

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Main Authors: Asma Keyvanlou Shahrestanaki, Hossein Nourani, Gholamreza Razmi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-05-01
Series:Veterinary Medicine and Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.70329
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author Asma Keyvanlou Shahrestanaki
Hossein Nourani
Gholamreza Razmi
author_facet Asma Keyvanlou Shahrestanaki
Hossein Nourani
Gholamreza Razmi
author_sort Asma Keyvanlou Shahrestanaki
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Background Neospora caninum is an obligate intracellular protozoan that is well established as a causative agent of abortion in dairy cattle worldwide. Objectives The objective of this study was to determine the role of N. caninum infection in the abortion in dairy cattle in the Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran. Methods From 2022 to 2024, 105 aborted bovine foetuses were collected from dairy cattle in Khorasan Razavi province. Brain samples of aborted foetuses were tested using nested PCR and histopathological examination. In addition, blood samples were collected from dairy cattle that had aborted PCR‐positive foetuses and were analysed using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results and Conclusions In the present study, N. caninum infection was detected in 24.76% (26 out of 105) of aborted bovine foetuses by nested PCR analysis. The brain tissues of 20 bovine‐aborted foetuses were only suitable for histopathological examination. Lesions of the central nervous system were severe hyperaemia, perivascular cuffing, astrogliosis, mild encephalitis and focal necrosis. One foetus exhibited a 32‐µm N. caninum cyst within the brain tissue. IgG antibodies against N. caninum were identified in all dairy cattle that aborted infected foetuses through ELISA testing. Molecular, histopathological and serological findings strongly suggest that N. caninum plays a significant role in bovine abortion in dairy cattle in Khorasan Razavi Province, northeast Iran.
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spelling doaj-art-b60a2ab7f6bb456eab0987de229ee4182025-08-20T02:30:06ZengWileyVeterinary Medicine and Science2053-10952025-05-01113n/an/a10.1002/vms3.70329Pathological and Molecular Studies of Neospora caninum Infection in Aborted Bovine Foetuses in Khorasan Razavi Province, IranAsma Keyvanlou Shahrestanaki0Hossein Nourani1Gholamreza Razmi2Department of Pathobiology Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Ferdowsi University of Mashhad Mashhad IranDepartment of Pathobiology Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Ferdowsi University of Mashhad Mashhad IranDepartment of Pathobiology Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Ferdowsi University of Mashhad Mashhad IranABSTRACT Background Neospora caninum is an obligate intracellular protozoan that is well established as a causative agent of abortion in dairy cattle worldwide. Objectives The objective of this study was to determine the role of N. caninum infection in the abortion in dairy cattle in the Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran. Methods From 2022 to 2024, 105 aborted bovine foetuses were collected from dairy cattle in Khorasan Razavi province. Brain samples of aborted foetuses were tested using nested PCR and histopathological examination. In addition, blood samples were collected from dairy cattle that had aborted PCR‐positive foetuses and were analysed using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results and Conclusions In the present study, N. caninum infection was detected in 24.76% (26 out of 105) of aborted bovine foetuses by nested PCR analysis. The brain tissues of 20 bovine‐aborted foetuses were only suitable for histopathological examination. Lesions of the central nervous system were severe hyperaemia, perivascular cuffing, astrogliosis, mild encephalitis and focal necrosis. One foetus exhibited a 32‐µm N. caninum cyst within the brain tissue. IgG antibodies against N. caninum were identified in all dairy cattle that aborted infected foetuses through ELISA testing. Molecular, histopathological and serological findings strongly suggest that N. caninum plays a significant role in bovine abortion in dairy cattle in Khorasan Razavi Province, northeast Iran.https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.70329abortioncattlehistopathologynested PCRNeospora caninumserology
spellingShingle Asma Keyvanlou Shahrestanaki
Hossein Nourani
Gholamreza Razmi
Pathological and Molecular Studies of Neospora caninum Infection in Aborted Bovine Foetuses in Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran
Veterinary Medicine and Science
abortion
cattle
histopathology
nested PCR
Neospora caninum
serology
title Pathological and Molecular Studies of Neospora caninum Infection in Aborted Bovine Foetuses in Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran
title_full Pathological and Molecular Studies of Neospora caninum Infection in Aborted Bovine Foetuses in Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran
title_fullStr Pathological and Molecular Studies of Neospora caninum Infection in Aborted Bovine Foetuses in Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran
title_full_unstemmed Pathological and Molecular Studies of Neospora caninum Infection in Aborted Bovine Foetuses in Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran
title_short Pathological and Molecular Studies of Neospora caninum Infection in Aborted Bovine Foetuses in Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran
title_sort pathological and molecular studies of neospora caninum infection in aborted bovine foetuses in khorasan razavi province iran
topic abortion
cattle
histopathology
nested PCR
Neospora caninum
serology
url https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.70329
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