Serological evidence of Neospora caninum infection in mithun (Bos frontalis) from India

Studies conducted on mithuns maintained at National Research Centre on mithun, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Nagaland, India and mithuns found in free-ranging condition of Nagaland revealed that the overall prevalence of antibodies to Neospora caninum in mithun was 10% (95% CI=5-15) when detected by a commercially available competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test. Highest (prevalence rate=16, 95% CI=8-24) seroprevalence was found in mithuns above 3 years of age and lowest (prevalence rate=2, 95% CI=0-6) in mithuns of 2-12 months old. No statistically significant difference was observed between male (prevalence rate=7, 95% CI=0-14) and female (prevalence rate=12, 95% CI=6-18) seroprevalences. The seroprevalence was found to be higher (prevalence rate=20, 95% CI=9-31) in mithuns found in free-ranging condition in comparison to mithuns kept in semi-intensive system (prevalence rate=5, 95% CI=1-9). This is probably the first report on serological evidence of N. caninum infection in mithun. The possible role of sylvatic fauna in the epidemiology of N. caninum infection mithun is also discussed in brief.