Study of the Seroprevalence of Neospora caninum in cattle from the San Cristóbal Canton, Galapagos

Abstract

Bovine neosporosis is a leading cause of reproductive losses in livestock worldwide, primarily due to its association with abortions, reproductive failure, and reduced productivity. In San Cristóbal Island, Galápagos, no recent studies existed to determine the epidemiological status of Neospora caninum in local herds. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the preliminary seroprevalence of the parasite in female cattle in the San Cristóbal canton and describe associated management factors. A non-experimental, descriptive study with a mixed-methods approach (quantitative and qualitative) was conducted. Eighty-nine female cattle were sampled by venipuncture, and sera were analyzed using the indirect ELISA technique with the IDEXX Neospora X2 Ab Test kit. Data were processed using descriptive statistics. The results showed a seroprevalence of 30.3%, with 27 reactive animals, 60 non-reactive animals, and 2 classified as inconclusive. The presence of antibodies indicated prior exposure to the parasite on several farms distributed throughout the evaluated area. However, because the test detects antibodies without differentiating between past, latent, or active infection, the findings do not allow for establishing recent transmission activity or estimating the actual productive impact. This study constitutes a first epidemiological approach for San Cristóbal Island. The preliminary results highlight the need for further research using confirmatory methods, as well as reproductive studies to assess the health and production relevance of N. caninum in local livestock systems.

Keywords: Neospora, cattle, seroprevalence, samples, transmission.