Molecular detection of Chlamydophila abortus, Coxiella burnetii, and Mycoplasma agalactiae in small ruminants’ aborted fetuses in southern Iran

• Published in: Tropical animal health and production Vol. 50; no. 4; pp. 779 - 785
• Main Authors: Heidari, S., Derakhshandeh, Abdollah, Firouzi, R., Ansari-Lari, M., Masoudian, M., Eraghi, V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.04.2018; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Abortion; Bacteria; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Caprinae; Chlamydophila abortus; Coxiella burnetii; Economic impact; Fetuses; Goats; Group size; Life Sciences; Mycoplasma agalactiae; Ovis aries; Pathogens; Polymerase chain reaction; Pregnancy; Public health; Regression analysis; Regular Articles; Risk analysis; Risk factors; Sheep; Statistical analysis; Statistical methods; Veterinary medicine; Veterinary Medicine/Veterinary Science; Zoology; Zoonoses; Abortion; Small ruminants; Mycoplasma agalactiae; Chlamydophila abortus; Coxiella burnetii
• ISSN: 0049-4747; 1573-7438
• DOI: 10.1007/s11250-017-1494-2

Abortion in sheep and goats has become increasingly important worldwide because of the significant economic losses and potential zoonotic implication of commonly involved pathogens. Therefore, this cross-sectional study was conducted in southern Iran to detect the Chlamydophila abortus and Coxiella burnetii , as zoonotic pathogens, and Mycoplasma agalactiae , as a neglected abortifacient agent in small ruminants’ aborted fetuses, by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). From a total of 300 aborted fetuses (183 sheep and 117 goats), 46 samples (15.5%) were positive by PCR, 11% for C. abortus , 2% for C. burnetii , and 3% for M. agalactiae . Also, the association of suggested risk factors with abortion due to these bacterial agents was investigated using univariable and multivariable logistic regression. Results of the statistical analysis showed significant association of C. abortus with flock size (OR = 2.82, P  = 0.014), season ( P  < 0.05), and the number of pregnancy in the aborted dam (OR = 2.5, P  = 0.05). Our results indicated that C. abortus has a relatively substantial role in small ruminant abortions, and C. burnetii and M. agalactiae are likely important abortifacient agents in our region, too. Regarding veterinary and/or public health importance of these bacterial agents, more attention from veterinary and/or human health services and, maybe, a surveillance system for control and prevention of them are recommended.