| Sumario: |
A total of 415 goat serum samples from 26 flocks in Hesse, Central Germany, were analyzed for the presence of specific antibodies against the abortion-causing apicomplexan parasite Neospora (N.) caninum by immuno-enzyme assay (ELISA). In total, three serum samples were seropositive for N. caninum with two of them originating from a flock in Middle-Hesse and one sample coming from a flock in Northern Hesse. Western Blotting confirmed two of three ELISA-positive samples proving a low overall prevalence of 2/415 (0.48%) for caprine neosporosis. No clinical signs related to neosporosis were detected in any seropositive animal. Additionally, there was no familiar relationship between them and N. caninum-positive goats were purchased from different breeders. The low numbers of N. caninum-seropositive animals excluded risk factors assessment. Based on the current seroprevalence data, N. caninum infections appear of minor importance in German goat flocks. Nevertheless, taking into account that caprine neosporosis was detected in some European countries bordering Germany, further epide-miological and surveillance studies on caprine N. caninum infections are required to complement our findings regarding the current situation in goat populations from the other German Federal States.
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