Neosporosis - Cattle
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- 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