The main reasons behind performing the current study were the high distribution of the water buffaloes Bubalus bubalis and cattle in Menoufia province, the veterinary importance of Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii and the limited information on the seropositivity of these parasites in Menoufia province, Egypt. Therefore, the current study was conducted to estimate the distribution of anti-N. caninum and anti-T. gondii antibodies (IgM and IgG) in water buffaloes and cattle from Menoufia province. ELISA methods based on the surface antigen 1 of N. caninum (NcSAG1t) and the surface antigen 2 of T. gondii (TgSAG2t) were utilized to detect both specific IgM and IgG for these parasites. The overall seroprevalence of N. caninum and T. gondii in cattle of Menoufia Province were (12.21% and 1.91% for IgM) and (14.89% and 3.05% for IgG), respectively. In water buffaloes, seroprevalences of N. caninum and T. gondii were (6.97% and 9.02% for IgM) and (13.52% and 8.2% for IgG), respectively. The mixed infection rate was 1.5% in cattle and 4.92% in buffaloes. No significant differences were detected regarding age or gender. Statistically significant changes in the prevalence of both parasites were demonstrated in relation to a period of the year. In conclusion, seroprevalence of neosporosis was more than toxoplasmosis in cattle and buffaloes in Menoufia Province, Egypt.
Keywords: Cattle; Diagnosis; Menoufia; Neosporosis; Toxoplasmosis; Water buffalo.
© Indian Society for Parasitology 2021.