Neospora infection in cattle

Bovine Neosporosis, a disease caused by the protozoan parasite, Neospora caninum, is now recognized throughout the world. It is the major identified cause of abortion in many regions, including California. A critical feature of the disease is that the infection is maintained in cattle as a chronic, persistent infection that is efficiently passed on to the fetus during pregnancy. While fetal infection in pregnant cattle may result in abortion, most of the infected fetuses do not abort but rather acquire a congenital infection. A congenitally infected heifer calf is capable of transmitting the infection onto the next generation when she becomes pregnant, thus maintaining the infection in the herd.