AABP Executive Director Dr. Fred Gingrich is joined by Dr. BJ Newcomer from the VERO branch of Texas A&M University to discuss abortions due to the protozoal parasite, Neospora caninum. Neosporosis is the most commonly diagnosed cause of cattle abortions and is seen in beef and dairy herds. Transmission of the etiologic agent can be exogenous through a canid host that ingests the cysts from aborted tissues and then passes them in feces to be ingested by cows, or vertically from dam to fetus in utero. An adult cow can pass Neospora to the fetus which can result in a positive calf that is born normally and is a risk for future reproductive failure, or result in an abortion, typically occurring in the 4 to 7-month gestation window. Newcomer reminds our listeners to work with their diagnostic labs to facilitate testing of aborted fetuses as well as testing adult cows for Neospora antibodies through serum ELISA testing. Control measures involve culling positive animals, aborting animals, and controlling fecal contamination from dogs in feed ingredients. We also discuss capturing the genetic value of positive cows through implementing advanced reproductive technologies and ensuring recipient animals are Neospora-negative. 

 This episode of Have You Herd was brought to our listeners by the AABP Reproduction Committee. Gingrich suggests that AABP members who want to volunteer to seek out a committee to join by going to the committee menu at https://aabp.org.