Seroprevalence of Neospora caninum infection in cattle and yaks in the northern mountainous regions of Kyrgyzstan

Neospora caninum is a cyst-forming coccidian parasite, with dogs and a few other canids serving as definitive hosts, and a wide range of intermediate mammalian hosts, including cattle and other bovids. Neosporosis is distributed worldwide and represents a major cause of abortion, stillbirth, and neonatal mortality in cattle. Kyrgyzstan, a mountainous country in Central Asia, has a predominantly small-scale agricultural economy. This study aimed to provide initial data on the occurrence of N. caninum infections in bovids in Kyrgyzstan. Plasma samples from 471 cattle and 27 yaks of both sexes and various ages, collected across ten rural communities in the northern mountainous regions of the country, were tested for N. caninum-specific antibodies using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (IDEXX Neospora X2 Ag Test), following the manufacturer's instructions. Antibodies against N. caninum were detected in 71 cattle samples from nine of the ten communities, yielding an apparent seroprevalence of 15.1 % (95 % confidence interval: 11.9-18.6 %). The proportion of seropositive cattle was lower in communities located at altitudes above 1000 m compared to those located below 1000 m. Cattle in communities within the semi-arid climate zone had lower seroprevalence than those in the humid continental and Mediterranean-like continental climate zones. No significant association was found between seropositivity and the sex or age class of the cattle. One yak sample tested seropositive for N. caninum antibodies. This study is the first investigation into the occurrence of N. caninum infection in Kyrgyzstan, demonstrating that the pathogen is present among cattle in the mountainous region. Therefore, neosporosis should be considered a potential cause of reproductive disorders in cattle in the country. Further research is needed to identify risk factors and assess the clinical and economic impact of bovine neosporosis in Kyrgyzstan.