Seroepidemiology of Sarcocystis neurona and Neospora hughesi infections in domestic donkeys (Equus asinus) in Durango, Mexico

Cosme Alvarado-Esquivel, Daniel K. Howe, Michelle R. Yeargan, Domingo Alvarado-Esquivel, José Alfredo Zamarripa-Barboza, Jitender P. Dubey

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

There is currently no information regarding Sarcocystis neurona and Neospora hughesi infections in donkeys in Mexico. Here, we determined the presence of antibodies against S. neurona and N. hughesi in donkeys in the northern Mexican state of Durango. Serum samples of 239 domestic donkeys (Equus asinus) were assayed for S. neurona and N. hughesi antibodies using home-made enzyme-linked immunoassays; six (2.5%) of the 239 donkeys tested seropositive for S. neurona. The seroprevalence of S. neurona infection was comparable among donkeys regardless of their origin, health status, or sex. Multivariate analysis showed that seropositivity to S. neurona was associated with increased age (OR = 2.95; 95% CI: 1.11-7.82; p = 0.02). Antibodies to N. hughesi were found in two (0.8%) of the 239 donkeys. Both exposed donkeys were healthy, 3- and 6-year-old females. This is the first evidence of S. neurona and N. hughesi infections in donkeys in Mexico.

Original languageEnglish
Article number24
JournalParasite
Volume24
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2017

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 C. Alvarado-Esquivel et al., published by EDP Sciences.

Keywords

  • Cross-sectional study
  • Donkeys
  • Mexico
  • Neospora hughesi
  • Sarcocystis neurona
  • Seroprevalence

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Parasitology
  • Animal Science and Zoology
  • Veterinary (miscellaneous)
  • Insect Science
  • Infectious Diseases

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