1
|
Nogarol C, Marchino M, Scala S, Belvedere M, Renna G, Vitale N, Mandola ML. Seroprevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Chlamydia abortus Infection in Sheep and Goats in North-Western Italy. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:291. [PMID: 38254460 PMCID: PMC10812754 DOI: 10.3390/ani14020291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia abortus, although poorly recognized as a human pathogen, is a zoonotic microorganism that can cause many different symptoms in humans, including subclinical infection and fatal illnesses in pregnant women. C. abortus is one of the most common causes of ovine and caprine infectious abortion worldwide, known as the causative agent of the enzootic abortion of ewes (EAE) or ovine enzootic abortion (OEA). To estimate C. abortus seroprevalence and the risk factors related to C. abortus in small ruminants, the sera from 3045 animals (both sheep and goat) belonging to 202 herds were tested and a questionnaire investigating flock management was administered. At the herd level, the true seroprevalence was 56.6% (CI95%: 46.9-66.3%), at sheep-farm and goat-farm level, the true seroprevalence was 71.4% (CI95%: 54.6-88.3%) and 44.8% (CI95%: 41.3-57.0%), respectively. The true seroprevalence was significantly higher among the sheep than the goats. The logistic regression model identified four factors associated with Chlamydia seropositivity: flock size (i.e., farms with >50 heads), contact with cattle, introduction of animals, and Coxiella seropositivity. The study evidenced a high seroprevalence of Chlamydia abortus in small ruminant farms in the Piedmont region. Considering its zoonotic potential and the health consequences in humans, communication to farmers on the importance of vaccination, as well as the sensibilization of farm vets, seem to be strategical.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Nogarol
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, S.S. Diagnostica Virologica Specialistica, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Torino, Italy; (C.N.)
| | - Monica Marchino
- Servizio Veterinario ASL TO5, S.C. Sanità Animale, 10023 Chieri, Italy;
| | - Sonia Scala
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, S.S. Diagnostica Virologica Specialistica, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Torino, Italy; (C.N.)
| | - Manuela Belvedere
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, S.S. Diagnostica Virologica Specialistica, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Torino, Italy; (C.N.)
| | - Giovanna Renna
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, S.S. Diagnostica Virologica Specialistica, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Torino, Italy; (C.N.)
| | - Nicoletta Vitale
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, S.S. Osservatorio delle Regioni, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Torino, Italy;
| | - Maria Lucia Mandola
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, S.S. Diagnostica Virologica Specialistica, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Torino, Italy; (C.N.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zeeshan MA, Ali S, Ahmed I, Rehman AU, Rafique MK, Nasir A, Khan AU, Kashif M, Mertens-Scholz K, Arshad MI, Ehtisham-ul-Haque S, Neubauer H. Sero-epidemiological study of zoonotic bacterial abortifacient agents in small ruminants. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1195274. [PMID: 37576834 PMCID: PMC10422025 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1195274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Abortion is one of the leading causes of economic losses in the livestock industry worldwide. Chlamydia abortus, Coxiella burnetii, and Brucella spp. are the leading cause of late fetal loss in small ruminants. This study determined the seroprevalence of these agents in small ruminants in district Jhang. A total of 385 serum samples were taken from the sheep and goats from different flocks with a history of abortion and subjected to i-ELISA. Further, samples were analysed for liver enzymes and total serum protein using a semi-automated chemistry analyzer. The result of indirect commercial ELISA showed 13.0, 4.2 and 11.2% prevalence for Coxiella burnetii, Chlamydia abortus, and Brucella spp., respectively. Values of different serum parameters (ALT, AST, and total protein) of seropositive animals were also determined. There was a significant rise in AST and ALT values of infected animals (p ≤ 0.05). Total protein decreased for all three infections, but a significant drop was noted in Brucella positive sheep serum samples. Various risk factors were studied. Binary logistic regression proved a significant role of ticks for coxiellosis and brucellosis. Age, parity, and species did not impact the prevalence of diseases studied.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Abid Zeeshan
- Department of Pathobiology (Pathology Section), University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore (Sub-Campus Jhang), Jhang, Pakistan
| | - Sarmad Ali
- Department of Pathobiology (Pathology Section), University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore (Sub-Campus Jhang), Jhang, Pakistan
| | - Ishtiaq Ahmed
- Department of Pathobiology (Pathology Section), University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore (Sub-Campus Jhang), Jhang, Pakistan
| | - Aziz ur Rehman
- Department of Pathobiology (Pathology Section), University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore (Sub-Campus Jhang), Jhang, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Kamran Rafique
- Department of Pathobiology (Pathology Section), University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore (Sub-Campus Jhang), Jhang, Pakistan
| | - Amar Nasir
- Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore (Sub-Campus Jhang), Jhang, Pakistan
| | - Aman Ullah Khan
- Department of Pathobiology (Microbiology Section), University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore (Sub-Campus Jhang), Jhang, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Kashif
- Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore (Sub-Campus Jhang), Jhang, Pakistan
| | - Katja Mertens-Scholz
- Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Jena, Germany
| | | | - Syed Ehtisham-ul-Haque
- Department of Pathobiology (Microbiology Section), University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore (Sub-Campus Jhang), Jhang, Pakistan
| | - Heinrich Neubauer
- Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Jena, Germany
| |
Collapse
|