Neospora caninum Immunofluorescent Antibody Test (IFAT) – individual test

Neospora caninum, an apicomplexan protozoan parasite, affects mostly cattle where it may result in abortions. These may take the form of sporadic or low-level endemic abortion, or epidemic "abortion storms" which can affect a large proportion of at-risk (i.e. in-calf) cows and cause large economic losses.

A high IFAT titre (>1:1000) in a cow that has aborted in the last 2-3 weeks is very strong evidence that N. caninum was the cause of the abortion. IFAT titres fall quickly from several thousand to a few hundred over a couple of months following abortion. A low IFAT titre (<1:200) in a cow that has aborted in the previous 2-3 weeks rules out N. caninum as the cause of abortion.

The IFAT is the most appropriate assay for individual abortion diagnoses, as titres are elevated around the time of abortion and then quickly decline within a matter of weeks.  In the dam, an IFAT titre of ≥1/600 is indicative of an association between the abortion and N. caninum infection. For investigation of reproductive disease in groups use the N. caninum ELISA.

Species:

Bovine

Specimen:

Serum (minimum 1 ml)

Container:

Plain or gel tube

Collection protocol:

Standard venepuncture