Prevalencia de anticuerpos contra Chlamydophila abortus en bovinos de crianza extensiva de tres distritos de Ayacucho, Perú

El objetivo del estudio fue determinar la prevalencia de anticuerpos contra Chlamydophila abortus en el ganado bovino de los distritos de Coracora, Chumpi y Pullo de la provincia de Parinacochas, departamento de Ayacucho, Perú. Los animales eran criados de forma extensiva y bajo monta natural. Se tomaron 184 muestras de sangre en bovinos mayores de 4 meses indistintamente del sexo. La detección de anticuerpos contra C. abortus se hizo con un kit comercial de ELISA indirecto. Se obtuvo una prevalencia corregida de 40.34 ± 7.06% con diferencia significativa entre distritos (p<0.05), siendo menor en Coracora (40.29 ± 8.89%) y mayor en Pullo (56.05 ± 7.15%, y sin diferencias significativas por efecto del sexo, raza, categoría animal y estado reproductivo. La alta prevalencia encontrada confirma la diseminación del patógeno en la población bovina de los distritos evaluados.

The role of PCR in the diagnosis of species-specific chlamydia in cattle

The aim of the study was to study the practical value of the PCR method for the identification of chlamydia species in cattle. Methods. PCR diagnostics of biological material from cows and calves was carried out. Results. In the course of laboratory studies, it was found that in 17.1 % of cases the biological diversity of the chlamydia species was found in the biological material: the genomes of Chlamydia spp. (7.6 %), Chlamydophila pecorum (7.6 %) and Chlamydophila abortus (1.9 %). Specific DNA regions of the bacterium Chlamydophila pecorum were found in biological material from calves in 1.9 % of cases. The examined calves were found to have an acute form of chlamydial infection with respiratory damage, as well as keratoconjunctivitis. Chlamydophila abortus genomes were identified in biomaterials in 6.7 % of aborted cows, which confirmed the presence of latent and chronic chlamydial infection of the reproductive tract in them. Samples positive for Chlamydia spp. DNA of Staphilococcus aureus was detected (37.5 %). Scientific novelty. Currently, PCR diagnostics of bacteria of the genus Chlamydophila, which have a unique cycle of development of intracellular parasites, open up new opportunities for detecting the genetic material of the Chlamydia species in farm animals. The polymerase chain reaction method turned out to be highly sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of chlamydophiles in farm animals with acute, latent, asymptomatic and chronic forms of the course of the infectious process. The difficulty in identifying pathogens with close genetic links (Chlamydophila psittaci, Chlamydophila abortus and Chlamydophila picorum) is determined by the quality of laboratory and diagnostic tools.

Seroconversion in Romanian Small Ruminant Populations Exposed at Chlamydophila Abortus and the Risk to Public Health

Chlamydophila abortus is an important pathogen of small ruminants, causing reproductive failure manifested through abortion during the last 2-3 weeks of gestation, stillbirth, or delivery of weak lambs or kids, and orchitis and seminal vesiculitis in males. Also, C. abortus is a zoonotic bacteria, involved in influenza-like illness, pneumonia and abortions sometimes with severe complications in humans. The aim of this article is to evaluate the immunological status to C. abortus of Romanian small ruminant populations, geographically isolated, whose spontaneous uncontrolled contact is excluded. This paper is also assessing the risk of humans exposure to contaminated animals and food. The immunological status of the investigatet small ruminants was evaluated using an ELISA commercial kit and the results were analysed in correlation with the history of vaccination and type of animal breeding (traditional/professional farms). According to these results, the exposure of C. abortus is still to consider in traditional breeding farms, but in professional herds the serological tools are useless to uncover the circulation of wild strains, once the immunoprofilactic programs has been implemented. The public health risk relate to the close contact with the infected sheep and goats, common event in the traditional breeding.

Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Chlamydophila abortus Infection in Goats of the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

Background: Chlamydophilosis is a disease caused by the bacterium Chlamydophila abortus, responsible for reproductive damage in small ruminants, and economic losses to animal production. In addition, it is classified as a zoonosis once it presents symptoms similar to numerous bacterial and viral infections of the reproductive system, making clinical diagnosis difficult. The objective of this work was to estimate the seroprevalence of anti-C. abortus antibodies in goats and to identify the risk factors for the disease in two mesoregions of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.Material, Methods & Results: This research was carried out in two mesoregions of the State of Rio Grande do Norte (Central Potiguar - CP and West Potiguar - WP) located in the Northeast of Brazil. These mesoregions together represent 83% of the regional herd. A total of 54 properties were studied. Those are distributed in seven municipalities: Afonso Bezerra, Angicos, Lages and Pedro Avelino, in the CP mesoregion; and Apodi, Caraúbas, and Mossoró, in the OP mesoregion. We used 540 animals from herds characterized as non-defined breed (NDB) and native breed, regardless of their productive functions, being frequent the consortium of caprine and ovine species. Blood samples were collected through jugular venipuncture by vacuum system with 5 mL tubes without anticoagulant. After collection, the tubes were centrifuged at 1500 g for 15 min. Detection of anti-Chlamydophila sp. antibodies was performed by the Complement Fixation Test. In parallel with the collection, a questionnaire was applied addressing general property and producer characteristics. Seroprevalence of chlamydophilosis in the CP mesoregion was 3.04% (7/230) for the animals and 26.1% (6/23) for the properties, whereas, in the WP mesoregion, the values were 4.2% (13/310) and 35.5% (11/31), respectively. In the final logistic regression model, no variable analyzed was considered to be associated with a higher probability of C. abortus positive properties. There was no significant difference (P = 0.76) in the infection among the studied mesoregions. All the seven municipalities evaluated, had at least one positive property. No serology was found with titers greater than 1:32. The results of the suspects with titers of 1:16 were 3.9% (9/230) in the CP and 3.5% (11/310) in the WP mesoregion. None of the 82 breeding animals tested were C. abortus reagent, but three were suspected. The highest prevalence for the infection was seen in the matrices with 5.6% (18/321), followed by young females with 2.9% (1/35), young males with 1.2% (1/82) and breeding animals with 0% (0/82).Discussion: The seroprevalence to Chlamydophila abortus found in the state of Rio Grande do Norte was lower than that found in most Brazilian states, and even in other countries. The presence of properties with positive animals displays a risk of dissemination of the disease in the region. In addition, the presence of suspect animals may indicate a much larger number of positive animals. The existence of false-negative animals in the herd can lead to difficulties in controlling and eradicating this disease. Although none of the breeding animals were reagent to C. abortus in the CF test, the possibility of venereal transmission should not be discarded. As some animals remained suspects, it may indicate an initial infection phase and seroconversion process, possibly characterizing future transmitters of the bacterium via semen. However, even though seroprevalence was numerically low, this disease should be a cause for concern due to its severity and spread capacity among herds, and especially because it is a zoonosis. We conclude that chlamydophilosis is present in goat breeding in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, and female animals are more susceptible to Chlamydophila abortus infection.