Neosporosis

Description

Neospora caninum is a coccidian parasite related to Toxoplasma gondii. The dog is the definitive host, with sexual stages in the gut resulting in oocysts shed in faeces.

Cattle (an intermediate host species) are infected by ingesting feed contaminated by sporulated N caninum oocysts shed by dogs or by infected cattle tissues (eg infected foetal membranes), or are infected transplacentally.

The asexual proliferative stages of N caninum (including tissue cysts) cause:

Abortion in cattle (world-wide, including coastal NSW) and congenital neonatal neurological disease in cattle (rarely)
Neospora abortion is reported in deer (rarely)
Rarely, neurological disease in the dog

Diagnosis and tests available

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is based on history, clinical signs, serology and histopathology. A histopathologic diagnosis is based on the detection of tissue cysts with associated necrosis and inflammation.

Tests available

Click on + in the tables below for sampling requirements and additional test information

Code	Name	Samples required	Species	Turnaround time	Price (excl. GST)	Notes	Test days
HIST_HE1	Histopathology – Preparation & Examination	Fixed Tissues- General Fresh tissues immediately placed in formalin Tissue pieces should not be greater than 1cm cubed to ensure proper fixation Submit fixed in neutral buffered formalin at a 10:1 ratio of formalin: tissue Fixed Tissues- Nervous tissues Submission of whole brain is required to ensure preservation of TSE target sites submit fixed in neutral buffered formalin at a ratio of 10:1 formalin: tissue Brains submitted for Nervous tissues are processed once a week, separate to general tissues to ensure consistent and reliable results. Urgent cases can be processed out of cycle if clearly marked on the Submission Form however this may reduce the quality of the brain histology results, so should only be requested in extremely urgent cases. Fresh Tissues Fresh tissues can be submitted following necropsy The quality of the tissues will be reduced due to the effects of autolysis so ideally fixed tissue should be submitted in neutral buffered formalin at a ratio of 10:1 formalin: tissue	All species	Up to 10D	$84.95	D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.	Monday - Friday
NEO_ABEL	Neospora caninum Antibody ELISA*	Serum (Red top) At least 2mL of serum collected into a plan red top tube. Submit chilled. Plasma (Green or Purple top) At least 2mL of plasma collected into a plain Lith-Hep (Green top tube) or EDTA (purple top tube) Submit chilled Milk Preserved milk Submit chilled.	Bovine, Ovine and Caprine	Up to 5D	$19.40	* Denotes analyses not covered by the NATA scope of accreditation. D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.	Monday- Friday
PM_FCOW	Post Mortem Large Animal- Cow Foetus	Whole Animal Animals must be recently euthanised or freshly dead. Submit chilled in an insulated container. Freezing animals for post mortem is not recommended, as it interferes with diagnostic testing (e.g. bacterial culture and histology). Animals may be frozen if the interval between euthanasia and post mortem will be greater than 24 hours, however further diagnostic testing will be limited.	Bovine	Necropsy reports are issued up to 14D after completion of necropsy.	$76.95	1 cow foetus Final selection of the appropriate post mortem type is at the discretion of the pathologist performing the necropsy. Post mortem charges do not include additional diagnostic testing (e.g. bacterial culture, or histopathology). Animals for post mortem examination must be packaged and labelled appropriately, and accompanied by a completed submission form. Contact the laboratory to ensure the correct samples are collected, and further testing is performed as requested. Please contact Customer Service to discuss a diagnostic plan. D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.	According to demand
NEOC_QPCR	Neospora canium qPCR*	Foetal Tissues Brain Faeces	Bovine, Ovine, Caprine, Porcine, Equine, Canine	5D	$109.35	* Denotes analyses not covered by the NATA scope of accreditation. D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.	Monday- Friday
TOXNE_MULT	Toxoplasma gondii & Neospora Multiplex qPCR*	Placental tissue Brain Tissue	Ovine, Caprine, Porcine, Equine, Bovine, Feline, Canine	5D	$137.80	* Denotes analyses not covered by the NATA scope of accreditation. D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.	Monday- Friday

Additional specimen information:

Histopathology sample requirements
Fixed tissue Brain, lung, heart, skeletal muscle, liver, lymphoid tissues and adrenal gland. Submit fixed in neutral buffered formalin at a 10:1 ratio of formalin: tissue.

Histopathology sample requirements

Fixed tissue

Brain, lung, heart, skeletal muscle, liver, lymphoid tissues and adrenal gland.
- Submit fixed in neutral buffered formalin at a 10:1 ratio of formalin: tissue.

Post Mortem sample requirements
Aborted foetus Whole aborted foetus with placental membranes. Submit chilled.

Post Mortem sample requirements

Aborted foetus

Whole aborted foetus with placental membranes.
- Submit chilled.

Additional Test Information

Note
In view of the widespread prevalence of subclinical neosporosis in cattle in coastal NSW areas, seropositivity in an aborted cow does not confirm Neospora abortion.

Additional Information

Customer Service

Contact Customer Service for enquiries relating to testing and results, quotations and pricing, couriers, sample submission and invoicing.

NSW DPIRD's laboratories are committed to continual improvement of services. If you would like to provide feedback, please fill in and submit the online feedback form.

CONTACT DETAILS
Phone	1800 675 623
Email	laboratory.services@dpird.nsw.gov.au
Operating Hours	8:30am-4:30pm Monday-Friday (excluding public holidays) 8:30am-12:00pm Saturday (for deliveries only)
Postal Address	Private Bag 4008, Narellan NSW 2567

Quotations

For Animal export, Plant health or Veterinary quotations, please complete the online quotation request

Submission Forms

Veterinary Specimen Advice Form

Please Note: These documents are not fully web accessible, please contact Customer Service (laboratory.services@dpird.nsw.gov.au) for more information.

Courier services and specimen delivery

For NSW submissions, please contact the relevant Customer Service team for courier account details and to order consignment notes.

For submitters outside of NSW, Couriers can be contacted directly to make bookings and arrange collection of packages at the submitters own cost.

Commercial couriers may use either road or air transport and specimens should therefore be packed in accordance with International Air Transport Association (IATA) requirements. Most submission sent by veterinarians to the APHL for testing are defined as “Biological Substance Category B” and must be packed according to the IATA packing instructions 650 (Biological Substance Category B). As requirements for transport can change, customers should consult with their transport agent to obtain current requirements.

Samples may also be hand delivered to the site during normal business hours (8.30am - 4.30pm).

Sample Type	Laboratory	Street Address
Animal (including aquatic animals)	NSW Animal and Plant Health Laboratories (APHL)	EMAI, Woodbridge Road, Menangle NSW 2568