Infezione da Neospora caninum in Alpaca (Lama pacos) del centro Italia: risultati preliminari di un'indagine sierologica

A first serological survey to evaluate the presence of antibodies against Neospora caninum in alpaca (Lama pacos) was carried out. 104 sera, collected in June and in November 2004 from alpacas reared in Central Italy, were tested using a c-Elisa kit (VMRD, USA) in order to investigate the prevalence of infection and the possible involvement of N. caninum in abortions. A significant increase of antibodies titres was found from first to second drawing (t=4.3138, P<10-4), and the prevalence showed a statistically significant difference by sex: higher in female rather than in male, either in June (n=49) and November (n=55). No correlation between N. caninum infection and abortion can be proposed because of the absence of N. caninum isolation.