Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii in pet and shelter dogs in Malaysia https://doi.org/10.12982/VIS.2027.009
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Abstract
Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii are closely related and obligate intracellular protozoan parasites; however, these two protozoan parasites are understudied in dogs in the Malaysian context. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors of Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii in shelter and pet dogs in Peninsular Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was conducted, involving the analysis of 250 blood samples from dogs in nine shelters across West and East Malaysia, collected from May 2013 to June 2014, and 332 samples from five veterinary clinics in 2021. Serological testing was performed to detect antibodies against both protozoa, while PCR targeting the NC5 gene was used to detect N. caninum DNA in whole-blood samples. The seroprevalence of N. caninum was 6.0% (95% CI: 3.7 – 9.6) in shelter dogs and 0.4% (95% CI: 0.1 – 2.0) in pet dogs, and N. caninum DNA was not detected in any of the samples. The seroprevalence of T. gondii was 15.9% (95% CI: 11.9- 20.4) in pet dogs. These findings suggest relatively low exposure to N. caninum in both shelter and pet dogs, despite differences in the timing of sample collection between the two groups. A limitation of this study is the time gap between the shelter dog samples collected in 2013–2014 and the owned dog samples taken in 2021. This discrepancy may hinder direct comparisons due to possible changes in management practices, diet, and environmental exposures over the years; therefore, this study will refrain from making direct comparisons between shelter dogs and pet dogs. Further research is necessary to understand the clinical implications of these protozoan infections in dogs.
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