Neosporosis - Cattle

• • Commonest cause of infectious abortion in dairy cattle
  • Congenitally infected calves can have encephalomyelitis and paresis
  • Abortion usually occurs between 5-7 months of gestation but can occur as early as 3 months
  • No other clinical signs in the cow
  • Repeat abortions possible in same cow (persistently infected)

Prevention and Control

• Do not allow dogs access to calving cows, placental membranes and aborted or dead calves

• Do not allow dogs to defecate in cattle feeding areas

• Identify and cull seropositive cattle, or do not breed from them or their progeny

• Select seronegative cattle for breeding

• Vaccinate
  • Only in the USA
  • Neoguard or Intervet
  • Killed protozoal vaccine for healthy, pregnant cows
  • Dosed in first 3 weeks of pregnancy and then every 3-4 weeks during gestation
  • Revaccination with 2 doses during each subsequent pregnancy