Review of neosporosis: Disease insights and control approaches

The protozoan parasite Neospora caninum is a cause of infectious disease neosporosis. Neospora caninum is a major parasite affecting dogs and livestock worldwide. Neosporosis is a major cause of abortion in cattle, particularly in cattle raised in intensive agriculture. For diagnosis, the indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunofluorescence antibody test are employed. Neospora caninum goes through three different stages in its life cycle: sporozoites, tachyzoite, and bradyzoite. The primary method of N. caninum transmission in cattle is believed to be transplacental. Dogs are the definitive hosts of N. caninum, and the organisms in dogs and cattle are indistinguishable from one another. A high prevalence of N. caninum infection in animals was linked to the presence of dogs that tested positive for the parasite. Although exact statistics on the financial losses resulting from neosporosis in the global livestock sector are unavailable, losses are estimated to be millions of dollars. A number of medications have been investigated against N. caninum. In infected cell cultures, piritrexim, monensin, pyrimethamine, and trimethoprim stop N. caninum from growing intracellularly. Taking action to stop vertical transmission is the most practical way to control neosporosis in cattle herds, considering the current state of knowledge.