Seroprevalence of Chlamydia abortus infection in sheep and goats in Iran

BACKGROUND: Chlamydia abortus is a zoonotic bacteriumthat commonly causes abortions in ruminants. This microorganismis one of the most important infectious agents causingabortion and major economic losses in sheep and goats worldwide.OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was investigatingthe status of C. abortus infection among small ruminantflocks of some regions in Iran. METHODS: A total of 1440 serasamples from sheep and goats were collected from 113 flocksof 7 provinces and tested with CHEKIT®-ELISA for antibodiesagainst C.abortus. RESULTS: The study detected overall seroprevalencelevels of 25.6% for the individual animals, and81.4% flocks had at least one positive animal. Analysis of differentsheep groups based on their age revealed that the highestnumbers of infected animals were registered in the 2 yearsage group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate thatthe seroprevalence of C.abortus infection in sheep and goats isvery high in Iran. Therefore, it is necessary that Iran’s veterinaryorganization set up appropriate surveillance and controlprograms to reduce economic losses of this disease.

[1]  M. Xu,et al.  First record of Chlamydia abortus seroprevalence in Tibetan sheep in Tibet, China , 2013 .

[2]  J. Crafford,et al.  Seroprevalence survey of Chlamydophila abortus infection in breeding goats on commercial farms in the Otavi Veterinary District, northern Namibia. , 2010, The Onderstepoort journal of veterinary research.

[3]  R. Mota,et al.  Seroprevalence of antibodies to Chlamydophila abortus in Ovine in the State of Alagoas, Brazil , 2010, Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology].

[4]  G. Entrican,et al.  Protective adaptive immunity to Chlamydophila abortus infection and control of ovine enzootic abortion (OEA). , 2009, Veterinary microbiology.

[5]  F. Guerra-Infante,et al.  Detection of Chlamydophila abortus in Sheep (Ovis aries) in Mexico , 2008 .

[6]  A. Pospischil,et al.  Prevalence of chlamydiae in semen and genital tracts of bulls, rams and bucks. , 2007, Theriogenology.

[7]  N. Wheelhouse,et al.  Immunity in the female sheep reproductive tract. , 2006, Veterinary research.

[8]  E. Vretou,et al.  Seroprevalences for ovine enzootic abortion in Switzerland. , 2004, Preventive veterinary medicine.

[9]  D. Longbottom,et al.  Animal chlamydioses and zoonotic implications. , 2003, Journal of comparative pathology.

[10]  D. Buxton,et al.  Chlamydial Infection in sheep: Immune Control versus Fetal Pathology , 2001, Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine.

[11]  K. Linklater,et al.  Enzootic abortion of ewes , 1990, Veterinary Record.

[12]  D. Buxton.  Potential danger to pregnant women of Chlamydia psittaci from sheep , 1986, Veterinary Record.

[13]  P. Kennedy,et al.  Enzootic Abortion of Ewes , 1964, Nature.