Molecular detection of neospora caninum in aborted cattle fetuses in the aegean region, molecular characterization and determination of region seroprevalence

Objective: In this study, it is aimed to investigate the situation of neosporosis, which is one of the important causes of cattle abortions in the World and in Turkiye in recent years, and the disease causes serious economic losses, in the Aegean Region of Turkiye, where cattle breeding is common. Material and Methods: In this study, the sampling was done from cattle commercial herds in the provinces which are under the responsibility of Izmir / Bornova Veterinary Control Institute. In this study, brain and internal organ tissues of aborted fetuses belonging to abortion cases in commercial herds in the Aegean Region were collected and DNA isolated. Then the DNA samples were analyzed by RT-PCR method. Molecular characterization of N. caninum was performed in the positive samples. In addition, serologically, anti-N. caninum antibodies were detected using the ELISA test method in blood sera collected from 973 cattle, with a 95% confidence level and 10% expected prevalence (+/- 5) margin of error by simple random sampling method. Results: In this study, N. caninum DNA was detected in 8 (9,09%) of the organs and tissues of 88 cattle fetuses examined by RT-PCR, and 122 (12,66%) of the 973 cattle examined and were found serologically positive. Phylogenetic trees were formed by sequencing the samples found positive by RT-PCR. Conclusion: The presence of N. caninum in cattle in the Aegean Region has been comprehensively determined by both serological and molecular test methods, and the current situation of the commercial herds that have problems with N. caninum in cattle breeding in the region and the field reflection of N. caninum-induced abortion problems have been revealed. According to the findings, it was concluded that it would be important to determine the control strategies for the disease and to carry out more comprehensive studies including the final hosts.