Recognizing and preventing Neospora canium Infections
Potentially transmitted by Dogs,Coyotes and Wolves
The Disease
Neospora canium is a microscopic protozoan parasite,in the coccidian group.Cows congentially infected with Neospora appear healthy,but about 20% will abort at least once in their lifetimes.Cows typically abort between the fourth and seventh months of gestation.If they do not abort the are likely to pass the infection to their calves.Fetuses may be reabsorbed prior to three months of gestation,in which case the cow may come back into heat.Fetal mummification and still births can also occur.Congenitally infected calves are born healty and robust and develop normally but pas the infection on to their offspring.In this way, Neospora canium perpetuates itself in lines of cattle.
The second way that cattle become infected is through consuming feed or water contaminated with oocysts,or egge,from the parasite,or grazing on contaminated pastures.These oocysts are shed in the fecus of dogs,coyotes and probaly foxes and wolves.These animals become infected by eating infected animals,placentas or fetuses.
Abortion's from dam to fetus infections tend to be sporadic.Therefore,if your herd has an outbreak,or "storm" of laboratory-confirmed Neospora abortios,you shouldsuspect infection by contamination of feed or water.
The canine connection.
Science has proven that dogs and coyotes can spread Neospora through feces.The evidence is less conclusive that foxes and wolves shed oocysts.However,some studies have shown that,as the density of wild canines increases in an area,so does the prevalence of Neospora infection's in cattle.Other researchers suggest the protazoa cycles between wild canines and deer,spilling over to cattle.
It appears that dogs shed oocysts for less than 3 months after infection.Under certain conditions,oocysts can survive for months in the environment,leading to an abortion storm later.
Neospora canium has also been detected in deer,moose,sheep,goats and horses.
We have several ranchers here battleing this problem.The DNR is hesitant to blame this on their precious wolf but this problem never surfaced till our wolf numbers increased.So as you see the wolf is even killing livestock before its born.What it also does'nt say is once these cows abort many never rebreed...
Three Minnesota beef herds that had wolf predatation,tested their herds,and documented Neospora canium infections in 2005.
Potentially transmitted by Dogs,Coyotes and Wolves
The Disease
Neospora canium is a microscopic protozoan parasite,in the coccidian group.Cows congentially infected with Neospora appear healthy,but about 20% will abort at least once in their lifetimes.Cows typically abort between the fourth and seventh months of gestation.If they do not abort the are likely to pass the infection to their calves.Fetuses may be reabsorbed prior to three months of gestation,in which case the cow may come back into heat.Fetal mummification and still births can also occur.Congenitally infected calves are born healty and robust and develop normally but pas the infection on to their offspring.In this way, Neospora canium perpetuates itself in lines of cattle.
The second way that cattle become infected is through consuming feed or water contaminated with oocysts,or egge,from the parasite,or grazing on contaminated pastures.These oocysts are shed in the fecus of dogs,coyotes and probaly foxes and wolves.These animals become infected by eating infected animals,placentas or fetuses.
Abortion's from dam to fetus infections tend to be sporadic.Therefore,if your herd has an outbreak,or "storm" of laboratory-confirmed Neospora abortios,you shouldsuspect infection by contamination of feed or water.
The canine connection.
Science has proven that dogs and coyotes can spread Neospora through feces.The evidence is less conclusive that foxes and wolves shed oocysts.However,some studies have shown that,as the density of wild canines increases in an area,so does the prevalence of Neospora infection's in cattle.Other researchers suggest the protazoa cycles between wild canines and deer,spilling over to cattle.
It appears that dogs shed oocysts for less than 3 months after infection.Under certain conditions,oocysts can survive for months in the environment,leading to an abortion storm later.
Neospora canium has also been detected in deer,moose,sheep,goats and horses.
We have several ranchers here battleing this problem.The DNR is hesitant to blame this on their precious wolf but this problem never surfaced till our wolf numbers increased.So as you see the wolf is even killing livestock before its born.What it also does'nt say is once these cows abort many never rebreed...
Three Minnesota beef herds that had wolf predatation,tested their herds,and documented Neospora canium infections in 2005.
