Study of Neospora caninum in Cattle Herds in England
Author Information
Author(s): Kerry A Woodbine, Graham F Medley, Stephen J Moore, Ana Ramirez-Villaescusa, Sam Mason, Laura E Green
Primary Institution: Department of Biological Science, University of Warwick
Hypothesis
What are the associations between Neospora caninum seroprevalence and factors such as age, herd, and dam-offspring pairs in cattle?
Conclusion
The study found that 90% of herds had some seropositive cattle over the four-year period, indicating stable seroprevalence.
Supporting Evidence
- 94% of herds had at least one seropositive cow.
- 12.9% of adult cattle had at least one seropositive test.
- 90% of herds were seropositive at all visits.
- The median N. caninum seroprevalence in positive herds was 10%.
- There was a positive association between the serostatus of offspring and dams that were ever seropositive.
Takeaway
This study looked at cattle in England to see how many had a certain infection, and found that most herds had at least one infected cow.
Methodology
Blood samples were taken from cattle in 114 herds over four years to test for Neospora caninum antibodies.
Potential Biases
There may be risks of bias due to the convenience sampling of herds and reliance on farmer-reported data.
Limitations
The study may have limitations related to the accuracy of serological tests and potential biases in herd selection.
Participant Demographics
The study involved adult cattle from 114 herds in south west England.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
95% CI, 100.0% – 100.0%
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website