Molecular Study of the Prevalence of Brucella Abortus and Brucella Melitensis in the Blood and Lymph Node Samples of Slaughtered Camels by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in Iran

Abstract

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease which is characterized by reduced fertility and abortion in several species of animals, as well as humans. Camel brucellosis is caused by Brucella abortus and Brucella melitensis. To overcome the limitations posed by other techniques such as culture and serology, a sensitive technique (PCR) was employed for the detection of brucellosis in 123 camels. Findings from this PCR study indicated a total of 11.38% of blood samples as positive for Brucella spp. and 13.01% of the lymph node samples were positive for Brucella spp. In this study, 5 out of 123 (4.065%) and 3 out of 123 (2.439%) camel blood samples were positive for B. abortus and B. melitensis, respectively. Also, 4 out of 123 (3.252%) and 2 out of 123 (1.626%) camel lymph node samples were positive for B. abortus and B. melitensis, respectively. Young camels were the most commonly infected age group, while adult camels were the less often infected age group. Also, higher prevalence of brucellosis was observed in female camels. These results have indicated that PCR is a sensitive technique which could be used as a confi rmatory test for the detection of brucellosis in live camels, at the same time with the lowest risk of infection of laboratory personnel. The obtained results suggest that control and eradication programs for Brucella spp. infection seem to be necessary in camels. Our fi ndings support the power of PCR test for Brucella spp. detection in the blood and lymph node samples and it could be easily used for routine diagnosis.

Molecular characterization of Brucella species in cattle, sheep and goats obtained from selected municipalities in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

“…The Bru gene was detected in a higher percentage in our study from blood samples than lymph node samples, a result varying with the results of Khamesipour et al [32] who discovered a higher percentage of this gene in lymph node samples compared to the blood samples. In our study, Brucella was observed in 23.9% of cattle, 7.7% in sheep and 20% in goat's blood samples.…”

Detection of Brucella sp. and Leptospira sp. in dogs using conventional polymerase chain reaction

“…and Leptospira sp. in dogs, and detection of the bacteria in abortion cases in ruminants using PCR in Iran have been conducted (8,(11)(12)(13)(14), but in this study conventional PCR was used for the first time for the detection of these pathogens in dogs in Iran.…”

“…Brucella and Leptospira are pathogenic bacteria that cause brucellosis and leptospirosis in many animal species including cattle, sheep, goat, camel, buffalo, dog, and horse worldwide (5,6,13,14). Both bacteria are responsible for abortions in infected animals.…”

“…Direct bacteriological isolations can be also conducted, but they are difficult, time consuming and risky. In order to improve the direct diagnosis and minimise the aforementioned problems, molecular diagnosis based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been successfully used for the detection of Leptospira and Brucella in clinical samples (2,14,17).…”

The Role of Apoptosis and Autophagy in Bovine Abortions Associated with Brucella Spp

“…Measuring 0.5 × 0.7 × 1.5 μm, they exhibit low metabolic activity [2]. B. abortus, the etiologic agent of cattle and camel brucellosis, is the foremost cause of bacterial-induced abortion, although B. melitensisand B. suis may also be responsible [3,4] Immunohistochemistry is one of the several methods used to diagnose Brucellaspp., and it has been used to detect Brucella spp.antigens in formalin-fi xed, paraffi n-embedded tissues in cows [5].…”