Antibodies to Neospora caninum in dairy cattle in Southwest of Parana State

Since November 2007 until May 2009, 1,778 serum samples of cattle from dairy herds of the Southwest of Parana State, Brazil, were used for search of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies. The frequency of seropositive animals, assessed by IFAT, was 24.2% (431/1,178), showing a relatively high occurrence in the studied population. These results show that Neospora. caninum is widely distributed in the dairy cattle in the Southwest of Parana State. The presence of Neospora caninum in a herd is worrisome, since this protozoan is closely related with reproductive disorders and low milk production in cattle.