Study the prevalence of Neospora caninum in milk of ruminants by molecular method

Neospora caninum is an intracellular protozoan parasite with global dissemination. This protozoa has been the main cause of abortion in dairy cows. The present research was done to study the seasonal and geographical prevalence of Neospora caninum in ruminants milk by molecular method. Four-hundred and forty raw milk samples were collected from Isfahan, Chaharmahal Va Bakhtiari, Khuzestan and Fars provinces through 4 seasons of the year and transferred to the laboratory. Extracted DNA samples by kit were analyzed in order to detect the Neospora caninum NC5 gene using the nested-PCR assay. From a total of 440 studied milk samples, 54 samples (12.27%) were infected with Neospora caninum. Cow milk had the highest (26%) and sheep milk had the lowest (4%) prevalence of Neospora caninum. Milk samples collected in winter had the highest (22.85%) and samples collected in the summer had the lowest (8.57%) prevalence of Neospora caninum. Milk samples collected from Chaharmahal Va Bakhtiari province had the highest (14.94%) and samples collected from Isfahan had the lowest (6.38%) prevalence of Neospora caninum. Regarding the relative prevalence of this parasite in raw milk, adoption of monitoring plans are required more than before. Additionally, considering the possibility of consumption of traditional dairy products and transmission of infection to human, complete boiling of milk is recommended before consumption.