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Neospora Testing

Submission Guidelines

Submission Form (PDF)

Get Test Results

Neospora

  • Abortions associated with Neospora occur mid-gestation. Dogs are definitive hosts, capable of shedding oocysts in feces after eating infected tissue. Oocysts are able to survive in soil and water beyond the decomposition of the feces. Cattle become infected by ingesting oocysts.
  • Infection can also pass vertically from dam to fetus in cattle

Sample Types

WHEN TO USE

  • Test serum by ELISA on animals over 6 months when an increase of abortions has been identified in the herd

Testing Strategies

  • Test individuals or groups of aborting and non-aborting cows to associate Neospora with abortions

Result interpretation

Reported as Positive or Negative.

Positive

Antibodies against Neospora were detected in the sample. Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system in response to an exposure to Neospora caninum.

Next Step Additional diagnostic evaluation may be necessary with a positive result.
Negative

No Neospora antibodies were present in the sample.

Next Step Explore other possible causes for abortion such as BVD.
Test Type Positive Negative
Blood ELISA >0.5 <0.5

Submit Samples

  • Send direct to CentralStar laboratory
  • Neospora testing is only available in our Wisconsin laboratory. Samples shipped to the Michigan laboratory requesting Neospora testing will be sent to Wisconsin at an additional fee.

Additional Information

Testing Supplies

FAQs

What is Neospora and how does it affect cattle?
Neospora caninum is a microscopic parasite that causes abortion in cattle, usually during mid-gestation. Dogs are the definitive hosts; they shed oocysts in their feces after consuming infected tissue. These oocysts can survive for long periods in soil and water, infecting cattle that ingest contaminated feed or water. Infection can also spread vertically from cow to fetus, leading to reproductive losses in dairy and beef herds.
How do cattle get infected with Neospora?
Cattle typically become infected when they consume feed, water, or soil contaminated with dog feces containing Neospora oocysts. Once infected, a cow can transmit the parasite to her calf in utero, which helps maintain the infection within the herd. Preventing dog access to feed and fetal materials can significantly reduce the risk of Neospora outbreaks.
When should Neospora testing be performed in a herd?

Neospora testing should be done when an increase in abortions is noticed within the herd. Use a serum ELISA test on animals over 6 months of age to detect antibodies against Neospora caninum. Testing both aborting and non-aborting cows helps determine whether Neospora is a likely cause of pregnancy loss.

How are Neospora ELISA test results interpreted?
  • Positive: Indicates exposure
    • Antibodies to Neospora caninum were detected. Additional diagnostics or group comparisons between aborting vs. non-aborting cows can help confirm if Neospora is the cause of abortions.
  • Negative: No antibodies detected
    • Explore other causes of abortion such as BVD or leptospirosis.

Results are typically available within 5 days of sample receipt.

Where can I send samples for Neospora testing?

Neospora testing through CentralStar is only available in our Wisconsin Laboratory. Samples sent to the Michigan lab will be forwarded to Wisconsin for testing, with an additional shipping fee. Blood samples should be collected fresh, and shippers or sample kits can be ordered online for convenience.

CentralStar’s laboratories provide sample analyses on milk, blood, fecal, and tissue samples for a variety of production, disease and health-related traits. More than 6 million samples are processed annually using state-of-the-art equipment and techniques including infrared spectroscopy, flow cytometry, ELISA, PCR, and more.

CentralStar laboratory services are intended solely for the detection of specific microorganisms or viruses in approved sample types. These services do not evaluate, certify, or guarantee the safety of milk for human consumption. It is recommended that interpretation of the results provided, and management decisions based on these results be done under the advisement of a veterinarian.