title: Seroprevalence and molecular characterization of Chlamydia abortus in frozen fetal and placental tissues of aborting ewes in northeastern Algeria.
abstract: Enzootic abortion of ewes is one of the most serious health problems in sheep flocks worldwide. It has a significant economic impact because abortion, decrease in milk production and weak lambs. Besides, the bacteria is zoonotic. A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with Chlamydia abortus infection in 552 ewes in Constantine using a C. abortus-specific indirect ELISA kit. Chlamydial DNA was investigated in ten ovine fetuses and eight placentas using PCR- restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and DNA sequencing. The study concluded that 7.2 % of ewes were seropositive and 33.3 % of sheep flocks had at least one seropositive ewe. Adjacent farmworker visits (OR = 7.667, 95 % CI (OR) = 2.307; 27.203) was defined as a risk factor. Deliveries of weak lambs (OR = 2.920, 95 % CI (OR) = 1.022; 8.342) and septicemia in lambs (OR = 9.971, 95 % CI (OR) = 2.383; 41.713) were significantly associated with chlamydial infection. PCR-RFLP analysis revealed positive signals to C. abortus in six fetuses and four placentas. Sequencing of the omp2 gene revealed that the Algerian strain is 96 % similar with C. abortus FAS strain. C. abortus plays a major role in abortion in northeastern Algeria. Appropriate control measures must be implemented to reduce economic losses and to avoid human contamination.
authors.affiliation: Management of Animal Health and Productions Laboratory, Institute of Veterinary Sciences, University of Frères Mentouri Constantine 1, Constantine, Algeria. hireche.sana@umc.edu.dz.
authors.forename: Sana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hireche
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
authors.forename: Mustafa Mohammed Kheir
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ababneh
authors.affiliation: Management of Animal Health and Productions Laboratory, Institute of Veterinary Sciences, University of Frères Mentouri Constantine 1, Constantine, Algeria.
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bouaziz
authors.affiliation: Management of Animal Health and Productions Laboratory, Institute of Veterinary Sciences, University of Frères Mentouri Constantine 1, Constantine, Algeria.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boussena
mesh_terms: D000034:Abortion, Veterinary / Q000382:microbiology*; D000462:Algeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D002689:Chlamydia / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000382:microbiology; D010920:Placenta / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D011247:Pregnancy; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology
keywords: Algeria; Chlamydia abortus; DNA sequencing; Ewes; PCR-RFLP; Seroprevalence