Molecular detection of <i>Brucella melitensis</i>, <i>Coxiella burnetii</i> and <i>Salmonella abortusovis</i> in aborted fetuses of Baluchi sheep in Sistan region, south-eastern Iran.

Abstract

Abortion in sheep and goats causes enormous economic losses. This study revealed the epidemiology of abortion caused by <i>Brucella melitensis</i>, <i>Coxiella burnetii</i> and <i>Salmonella abortusovis</i> in Baluchi sheep in Sistan region. In the autumn of 2015 and winter of 2016, a total of 78 aborted sheep fetuses were collected from all over the Sistan region. Risk factors, including location of livestock, history of abortion, gender of fetus, age of fetus, age of ewe and parity were obtained using a questionnaire. The results showed that 27 fetuses (35%) were infected with these organisms. Infection with <i>B. melitensis</i>, <i>C. burnetii</i> and <i>S. abortusovis</i> were identified respectively in 15 (19.2%), 13 (16.6%) and 1 (1.3%) fetus. Logistic regression analysis showed that infection with <i>B. melitensis</i> in male fetuses is higher than females (OR=3.73, P=0.040), also infection with <i>C. burnetii</i> in ≤2 years' ewes (OR=0.047, P=0.009) and 2-5 years' ewes (OR=0.197, P=0.069) is lower than ≥5 years' ewes.