Neospora caninum DNA in Coyote Fecal Samples Collected in an Urban Environment.

Neospora caninum (N. caninum) is a coccidian parasite with a complex life cycle (i.e. it requires multiple host species to complete its cycle) and a wide host range. Its main definitive hosts are different species of canids such as dogs, coyotes and foxes, whereas ruminants such as cattle, sheep, and deer serve as intermediate host. To date, no study has addressed the prevalence of N. caninum in urban coyotes. The aim of this study was to investigate the fecal presence of N. caninum in coyotes (Canis latrans) in Calgary, AB Canada. One-hundred coyote fecal samples were collected from 5 city parks. Following DNA extraction the presence of N. caninum DNA was determined using real-time PCR analysis using a primer/probe pair targeting the Nc5 gene. Ten of the 100 samples contained detectable amounts of N. caninum DNA. White-tailed and mule deer are common in Calgary’s city parks, and, even though were not examined for the presence of N. caninum bradyzoites within the current study, the presence of N. caninum DNA in coyote fecal samples is indicative that a sylvatic of N. caninum exists within this urban environment.