Prevalence of antibodies to Neospora caninum in Korean native beef cattle

A total of 438 sera from Korean native beef cattle in 9 provinces were tested for Neospora caninum antibodies using an immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Eighteen (4.1%) cattle were positive by IFAT. The titers ranged from 1:200 (10 animals), 1:400 (5 animals), 1:800 (2 animals) to 1:1,600 (1 animal). Although the seroprevalence was slightly higher in Chungnam (8.9%), this was not significantly different from those noted in Kyunggi, Kangwon, Kyungbuk, Kyungnam, and Cheju provinces. Sera obtained from beef cattle in the provinces of Chungbuk, Jeonbuk and Jeonnam were all negative. Neospora positive sera were also tested for anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies using a commercial latex agglutination test (LAT). Antibody to T. gondii was detected in only 1 (5.6%) of 18 N. caninum positive sera. These results indicate that N. caninum and T. gondii infection are present at a low level in the Korean native beef cattle.