Prevalence of antibodies to Neospora caninum within central Queensland beef cattle

Abstract

Neospora caninum has been shown to be an important cause of abortion in cattle worldwide. Despite the considerable attention this parasite has attracted globally, and Australis's status as a major beef producer, little is known about the epidemology of N caninum in Australian beef herds. The only previous report of N caninum in Australian beef cattle was from a diagonostic laboratory report of the aetiological cause of abortion in cattle in northern New South Wales, which found that 41% of all protozoal abortions diagnosed (presumably due to No caninum infection) occurred in beef herds. The present study aimed to define the age-specific prevalence of antibodies to N caninum in central Queensland beef herds.