Neospora caninum, Sarcocystis spp. and Toxoplasma gondii infections and their relationship with milk production in goats from Argentina

Abstract

The apicomplexan protozoa Neospora caninum, Sarcocystis spp. and Toxoplasma gondii are worldwide distributed. Goat infections with these protozoans are frequent, although the relationship with milk production is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate and relate the antibodies titers to N. caninum, Sarcocystis spp. and T. gondii with the goat milk production. The study was conducted in two commercial dairy goat farms located in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. A total of 336 Saanen breed goats were evaluated (146 goats of E1 and 190 goats of E2). The total production per lactation was calculated and adjusted to 240 lactation days in milliliters. Blood samples obtained and the age, number of lactations, body condition, and FAMACHA© degree were recorded. Sera were tested for N. caninum, Sarcocystis spp. and T. gondii antibodies by IFAT, starting at 1:100 for N. caninum and T. gondii IFATs, and at 1:50 for Sarcocystis spp., and all three IFATs from each animal were processed at the same time to final titer. The overall seroprevalence of N. caninum, Sarcocystis spp. and T. gondii was 81.8 % (275/336), 85.1 % (286/336) and 66.7 % (224/336), respectively. Forty-nine percent (164/336) of goats were seropositive to three IFATs, 37.5 % (126/336) to two and 12.2 % (41/336) to only one. Similar N. caninum and Sarcocystis spp. seroprevalences were observed in E1 (80.1 and 88.4 %) compared to E2 (83.1 and 82.6 %), respectively. A higher T. gondii seroprevalence was detected in E1 (80.1 %) than E2 (56.3 %). A small group of 16 goats with higher IFAT titers to T. gondii, produced significantly less milk (85.3 L) than the rest. No significant milk productivity differences were found in goats seropositive and negative to only one, two or all three IFATs when analyzed within age and/or ordinal lactation number groups. Our results indicate a low association of seropositivity to these protozoans with goat milk production.