AUTHOR=Zeeshan Muhammad Abid , Ali Sarmad , Ahmed Ishtiaq , Rehman Aziz ur , Rafique Muhammad Kamran , Nasir Amar , Khan Aman Ullah , Kashif Muhammad , Mertens-Scholz Katja , Arshad Muhammad Imran , Ehtisham-ul-Haque Syed , Neubauer Heinrich 

TITLE=Sero-epidemiological study of zoonotic bacterial abortifacient agents in small ruminants

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1195274

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2023.1195274

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=<p>Abortion is one of the leading causes of economic losses in the livestock industry worldwide. <italic>Chlamydia abortus</italic>, <italic>Coxiella burnetii</italic>, and <italic>Brucella</italic> spp. are the leading cause of late fetal loss in small ruminants. This study determined the seroprevalence of these agents in small ruminants in district Jhang. A total of 385 serum samples were taken from the sheep and goats from different flocks with a history of abortion and subjected to i-ELISA. Further, samples were analysed for liver enzymes and total serum protein using a semi-automated chemistry analyzer. The result of indirect commercial ELISA showed 13.0, 4.2 and 11.2% prevalence for <italic>Coxiella burnetii</italic>, <italic>Chlamydia abortus</italic>, and <italic>Brucella</italic> spp., respectively. Values of different serum parameters (ALT, AST, and total protein) of seropositive animals were also determined. There was a significant rise in AST and ALT values of infected animals (<italic>p</italic> ≤ 0.05). Total protein decreased for all three infections, but a significant drop was noted in <italic>Brucella</italic> positive sheep serum samples. Various risk factors were studied. Binary logistic regression proved a significant role of ticks for coxiellosis and brucellosis. Age, parity, and species did not impact the prevalence of diseases studied.</p>