Molecular detection of <i>Neospora caninum</i> in the placentas and umbilical cord blood of women who experienced abortions

The relationship between Neosporosis infection in humans and its potential role in causing abortion remains uncertain. This is a molecular analytical cross-sectional study of Neospora caninum in the placentas and umbilical cord blood from aborted women. The results will be compared with molecular examinations of the placentas from several aborted livestock. 157 samples of placentas from aborted cows (58), sheep (51), and goats (48) were collected. In addition, 115 aborted fetal samples of cows (42), sheep (40) and a goat (33) were collected. Also, from aborted women, 45 samples were collected from the placentas and 45 samples of umbilical cord blood in the governorates of Muthanna and Qadisiyah in the Middle Euphrates region in Iraq. The overall infection rate was 5.45%, with 11 out of 202 samples taken from animals and women testing positive for infection. The highest infection rates were observed in older animals. No traces of N. caninum were found in the DNA samples extracted from the women's placentas. However, the DNA of the parasite was present in the blood of the umbilical cord in 4.4% of human embryos, as it was detected in 2 out of 45 samples. The presence of N. caninum in the umbilical cord blood indicates that the mother has acquired an infection. However, the absence in the placenta may be due to the parasite subspecies, which might not be able to penetrate the placental walls, or it could be that the human immune system has defenses that prevent the formation of the bradyzoite phase.