OCORRÊNCIA DE ANTICORPOS anti-Neospora caninum EM VACAS LACTANTES DO MUNICÍPIO DE ARAGUAÍNA, ESTADO DO TOCANTINS, BRASIL

The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in lactating cows from farms in the municipality of Araguaina, Tocantins State, Brazil. Blood samples from 192 randomly selected cows were collected and analyzed by Indirect Immunofluorescence (IIF) in order to detect IgG anti-Neospora caninum antibodies. Tachyzoites of the Nc-1 isolate of N. caninum, cultivated in Vero cells, were used as antigen and the cut-off point was titers above 1:200. Titration of positive samples until the dilution 1:6,400 was also performed. Forty-eight samples (25%) were serum positive; the prevalence in the farms was between 12.5% and 33.3% revealing the animal’s exposition to the parasite in the municipality of Araguaina. This is the first record of this parasite in the State of Tocantins.