Disease Summaries
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Neosporosis – a cause of Abortion in Cattle
Summary written by David Buxton BVM&S PhD FRCPath FRCVS
Taken from Moredun Foundation Newsheet Volume 3 No 8
- Neosporosis is caused by Neospora caninum, a single-celled organism (a protozoan parasite).
- Neospora eggs (oocysts) are produced by dogs and excreted in their faeces.
- Cattle will become infected if they eat food or drink water contaminated with Neospora oocysts.
- Infection in cattle is common and may frequently be passed from mother to calf with no ill effect. The parasite has evolved this important mechanism to aid its survival.
- Disease occurs when Neospora multiplies in the cells of the developing calf and its placenta and causes sufficient damage to trigger abortion or stillbirth.
- Control of neospora abortion is difficult but certain management rules can be applied to reduce the risks.
- Pharmaceutical preparations are known that will kill Neospora but their use to control infection/disease in cattle is either impracticable or not effective.
- No vaccine is currently licensed for preventing neosporosis in cattle.
- Current knowledge suggests that Neospora does not cause disease in human beings.
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