title: Prevalence and epidemiological features of ovine enzootic abortion in Lithuania.
abstract: The aim of performed study was to determine the level of enzootic abortion (EA) in sheep breeding farms in different districts of Lithuania, to determine differences in clinical signs and infection frequency between various age groups, and to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of complement fixation test for antibodies detection and indirect immunofluorescence for antigen detection in sheep chlamydiosis. The clinical, serological and immunological tests in sheep farms were performed in 2004 and 2005. Comparing different age groups of sheep revealed that the lowest number of infected sheep was registered in animals younger than 18 months (23.1%, antibodies titre 3.191 log2, P<0.05) and highest in animals aged 18 to 24 months (53.8%, antibodies titre 4.224 log2, P<0.001). In sheep aged more than 3 years, titre of antibodies was significantly reduced. The majority of infected sheep which aborted (86.4%) was registered in 18-24 month age group. Furthermore, in sheep which aborted the infection level was 2.5-fold higher as compared to sheep which didn't abort. Analysis of smears from patological material by indirect FAT revealed that 54.5% of animals were positive to Chlamydophila abortus infection. The highest prevalence of chlamydia (66.7%) was registered in placentas of sheep which aborted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Lithuanian Veterinary Academy, Tilzes 18, LT-47181 Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bagdonas
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Petkevicius
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pepin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salomskas
mesh_terms: D037881:Aborted Fetus / Q000382:microbiology; D000034:Abortion, Veterinary / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D023501:Chlamydophila / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology; D023521:Chlamydophila Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003168:Complement Fixation Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / Q000662:veterinary; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000382:microbiology; D008097:Lithuania / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010920:Placenta / Q000382:microbiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014521:Urethra / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial