Prevalence of Neospora caninum antibodies and factors associated with their presence in dairy cattle of the north of Paraná state, Brazil.

To determine the prevalence of Neospora caninum antibodies and associated factors, blood sera from 623 female dairy cattle from 23 farms in the north of the state of Paraná, Brazil, were analyzed by means of the indirect immunofluorescent-antibody test (IFAT > or = 25). Serum samples from 134 dogs living on the same farms also were tested for N. caninum antibodies (IFAT > or = 50), and the presence of dogs was associated with the prevalence of N. caninum antibodies in cattle. The overall seroprevalence in cattle was 14.3%, mainly in animals over 24 months of age. Seroprevalence in Holsteins (15.1% of 558) was greater than in mixed-breed cattle (7.7% of 65). Age (> or =24 months) of cattle, feeding silage and/or concentrate produced on the farm were associated; antibodies were found in 21.6% of dogs; and the presence of dogs was associated with the prevalence of N. caninum antibodies in cattle.