Epidemiological characteristics of bovine besnoitiosis ( Besnoitia besnoiti ) in a beef cattle farm: a cross-sectional serological assessment.

The most significant risk factors revealed were age (>7 years old) and breed (Salers). Genetic studies should be carried out in order to confirm whether indeed there is a breed susceptibility to bovine besnoitiosis. We suggest that similar studies should be performed across southern Europe to establish strong epidemiologic data that would allow a rigorous transnational control program to be launched.