Relationship between rainfall and Neospora caninum-associated abortion in two dairy herds in a dry environment
Issue date
2005Author
Santolaria Blasco, Pilar
Yániz Pérez de Albéniz, Jesús
López Bejar, M.
Almería, S.
Suggested citation
López Gatius, Fernando;
García Ispierto, Irina;
Santolaria Blasco, Pilar;
Yániz Pérez de Albéniz, Jesús;
López Bejar, M.;
Nogareda, Carmina;
Almería, S.;
.
(2005)
.
Relationship between rainfall and Neospora caninum-associated abortion in two dairy herds in a dry environment.
Journal of Veterinary Medicine, Series B, 2005, vol. 52, núm. 3, p. 147-152.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0450.2005.00831.x.
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Show full item recordAbstract
The possible direct relationship between climate variations and
abortion in Neospora caninum-infected cows has not been
studied. The objective of this study was to determine whether
climate changes could be a risk factor for abortion in
N. caninum-infected cows, and was based on yearly serological
screening for neosporosis and on the confirmation of
N. caninum infection on aborted fetuses in two high-producing
dairy herds with a mean 27% seroprevalence of N. caninum
antibodies. The final population study was comprised of 357
pregnancies in seropositive animals. Logistic regression analysis
indicated no significant effects of herd, N. caninum antibody
titre, climate variables during the first and third
trimesters of gestation, mean and maximum temperature–
humidity index values during the second trimester of gestation,
and previous abortion on the abortion rate. Based on the odds
ratio, a 1-unit increase in lactation number yielded a 0.85-fold
decrease in the abortion rate. The likelihood of abortion was
1.9 times (1/0.54) lower for pregnant cows inseminated with
beef bull semen compared with Holstein-Friesian bull semen.
The likelihood of abortion decreased significant and progressively
by factors of 0.5, 0.41 and 0.3 for the respective classes
40–49, 30–39 and <30 rainfall mm during the second trimester
of gestation (using the class ‡60 rainfall mm as reference). As a
general conclusion, it seems that increased rainfall in a dry
environment can compromise the success of gestation in
N. caninum-infected cows. Attempts should therefore be made
to reduce environment effects during the second trimester of
gestation, a period in which the immune response of cows is
diminished.