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Potential risk factors for bovine Neospora caninum infection in Germany are not under the control of the farmers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 August 2004

G. SCHARES ,
A. BÄRWALD ,
C. STAUBACH ,
M. ZILLER ,
D. KLÖSS ,
R. SCHRÖDER ,
R. LABOHM ,
K. DRÄGER ,
W. FASEN  and
R. G. HESS
...Show all authors
G. SCHARES
Affiliation:
Institute of Epidemiology, Federal Research Centre for Virus Diseases of Animals, Seestrasse 55, 16868 Wusterhausen, Germany
A. BÄRWALD
Affiliation:
Institute of Epidemiology, Federal Research Centre for Virus Diseases of Animals, Seestrasse 55, 16868 Wusterhausen, Germany
C. STAUBACH
Affiliation:
Institute of Epidemiology, Federal Research Centre for Virus Diseases of Animals, Seestrasse 55, 16868 Wusterhausen, Germany
M. ZILLER
Affiliation:
Institute of Epidemiology, Federal Research Centre for Virus Diseases of Animals, Seestrasse 55, 16868 Wusterhausen, Germany
D. KLÖSS
Affiliation:
Institute of Epidemiology, Federal Research Centre for Virus Diseases of Animals, Seestrasse 55, 16868 Wusterhausen, Germany
R. SCHRÖDER
Affiliation:
Institute of Epidemiology, Federal Research Centre for Virus Diseases of Animals, Seestrasse 55, 16868 Wusterhausen, Germany
R. LABOHM
Affiliation:
Landesuntersuchungsamt Rheinland-Pfalz, Blücherstrasse 34, 56074 Koblenz, Germany
K. DRÄGER
Affiliation:
Landesuntersuchungsamt Rheinland-Pfalz, Blücherstrasse 34, 56074 Koblenz, Germany
W. FASEN
Affiliation:
Landeskontrollverband Rheinland-Pfalz e.V., Burgenlandstrasse 7, 55543 Bad Kreuznach, Germany
R. G. HESS
Affiliation:
Landesuntersuchungsamt Rheinland-Pfalz, Blücherstrasse 34, 56074 Koblenz, Germany
F. J. CONRATHS
Affiliation:
Institute of Epidemiology, Federal Research Centre for Virus Diseases of Animals, Seestrasse 55, 16868 Wusterhausen, Germany
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Abstract

In the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, herds were identified that were likely to have a Neospora caninum sero-prevalence [ges ]10% by using a bulk milk ELISA. Individual herd data were obtained by a questionnaire. Univariate logistic regression showed that bulk milk positive farms had a significantly higher chance to report an increased abortion rate than negative farms (PWald<0·1). The chance to have a bulk milk positive herd increased with the minimum number of years a farm had reported an increased abortion rate (PWald<0·1). Questionnaire data, population and dog density as well as climatic data specific for the farm localization were used to identify potential risk factors for a herd to have acquired N. caninum infections. Within an optimized multiple logistic regression model ‘Number of farm dogs’, ‘Herd size’, and factors related to the municipality the farm was localized, i.e. ‘Mean temperature in July’, and ‘Dog density’ were significant risk factors (PWald<0·1). The present study underlines the role farm dogs have in the epidemiology of neosporosis. In addition, it suggests that the risk a herd has to acquire N. caninum infections is also associated with factors related to the farm location, i.e. factors that are largely out of the control of farmers.

Keywords

Neospora caninumrisk factorbovine abortionlogistic regressionclimatedog density
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 129 , Issue 3 , September 2004 , pp. 301 - 309
Copyright
© 2004 Cambridge University Press

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