Comparison of PCR and Conventional Serological Methods for Detection of Brucella spp. in Ovine and Caprine Blood Serum.

Brucellosis is an anthropozoonotic disease. Infection of livestock with Brucella is endemic in most parts of Iran. Sistan-Baluchestan is bordered on the east by the countries of Afghanistan and Pakistan. The high prevalence of brucellosis in livestock in the eastern neighboring countries results in transmission of the disease to this province. The present research aimed to determine the prevalence of brucellosis in small ruminants in the Sistan region of Iran and to compare serological and molecular tests for the detection of brucellosis. Blood samples were taken from 150 randomly selected sheep and goats, and sera were separated. All sera were analyzed by serological (Wright and 2-ME) and molecular (Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)) tests. Serological tests were carried out according to the instructions of the Iranian Veterinary Organization The degree of agreement between serological tests and PCR was determined by kappa value. In this study, 17 cases (11.3%) were identified as positive by the PCR method. Wright and 2-ME tests had the highest agreement with PCR in titers ≥2/80 and ≥2/40, respectively. The results of this study show that the brucellosis in sheep and goats has a greater prevalence in the Sistan region than in most other parts of Iran, and this is important in terms of public health. It is suggested that brucellosis vaccination coverage in livestock be increased in this area and that the people in Sistan region must be notified about methods for preventing brucellosis. Also, further studies to compare conventional serologic tests with the gold standard test are recommended.

Prevalence and related factors of Salmonella spp. and Salmonella Typhimurium contamination among broiler farms in Kerman province, Iran.

Salmonella is one of the most important pathogens in the poultry industry that not only causes financial and economic damage, but also, some serovars of this bacterium, including the S. Typhimurium, can infect humans through poultry-to-human transmission. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of this pathogen among broiler poultry houses in the Kerman region, southeast of Iran and to identify factors which could increase the risk for Salmonella contamination in the chickens. In a cross-sectional study, 110 poultry houses were surveyed from June to October 2018. Twenty-eight variables related to the prevalence of Salmonella contamination were considered by a questionnaire template with farmers' and laborers' help. Also, the prevalence of Salmonella in poultry manure was determined based on fecal sampling, microbiological tests and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. A multivariable logistic regression model was developed to measure the influence of independent variables on Salmonella contamination. Results showed that a time interval less than one month between the two breeding periods (OR = 6.530), the number of fans less than 5 in each poultry house (OR = 4.094) and the number of houses less than 4 in each farm significantly increased the probability of infection with Salmonella spp. (ORs were respectively 9.650, 29.427 and 7.140 for one, two and three houses). Also, the results of multivariable logistic regression showed that the use of a bell drinking system (OR = 4.379) and the presence of fewer than 5 fans in each poultry house (OR = 2.512) increased significantly the risk of infection with Salmonella Typhimurium.

A Study on Mycoplasma agalactiae and Chlamydophila abortus in Aborted Ovine Fetuses in Sistan and Baluchestan region, Iran.

Abortion is one of the most important economic issues in sheep flocks. Chlamydophila abortus is an agent of enzootic abortions in sheep. Mycoplasma agalactiae is the main etiological agent of contagious agalactia, which can cause abortion in sheep. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of M. agalactiae and C. abortus among aborted ovine fetuses in Sistan and Baluchestan, Iran. Sheep owners were asked to transfer their aborted fetuses to a nearby veterinary clinic; furthermore, they were taught biosecurity principles. A total of 78 aborted sheep fetuses were collected from all over Sistan region in the autumn of 2015 and winter of 2016. The samples were then transferred in ice to the Anatomy Laboratory of the Veterinary Faculty of Zabol University, Zabol, Iran. The spleen and abomasum contents of the fetuses were sampled under sterile and safe conditions. Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect M. agalactiae and C. abortus. The results showed that 24 (30.8%) cases were infected with M. agalactiae. However, infection with C. abortus was not detected in any fetuses. There was no statistically significant relationship between such independent variables as the location of livestock, history of abortion, fetal gender and age, age and parity of ewe, and fetal infection with M. agalactiae. The high incidence of Mycoplasma contamination in this study may be due to inappropriate biosecurity measures and lack of vaccination against agalactia in sheep herds in Sistan region.

Molecular detection of Brucella melitensis, Coxiella burnetii and Salmonella abortusovis in aborted fetuses of Baluchi sheep in Sistan region, south-eastern Iran.

Abortion in sheep and goats causes enormous economic losses. This study revealed the epidemiology of abortion caused by Brucella melitensis, Coxiella burnetii and Salmonella abortusovis in Baluchi sheep in Sistan region. In the autumn of 2015 and winter of 2016, a total of 78 aborted sheep fetuses were collected from all over the Sistan region. Risk factors, including location of livestock, history of abortion, gender of fetus, age of fetus, age of ewe and parity were obtained using a questionnaire. The results showed that 27 fetuses (35%) were infected with these organisms. Infection with B. melitensis, C. burnetii and S. abortusovis were identified respectively in 15 (19.2%), 13 (16.6%) and 1 (1.3%) fetus. Logistic regression analysis showed that infection with B. melitensis in male fetuses is higher than females (OR=3.73, P=0.040), also infection with C. burnetii in ≤2 years' ewes (OR=0.047, P=0.009) and 2-5 years' ewes (OR=0.197, P=0.069) is lower than ≥5 years' ewes.