Sero-Epidemiological Investigation of the Major Abortive Bacterial Agents in Ewes of M’Sila Governorate, Algeria
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Sero-epidemiological Investigation of the Major Abortive Bacterial Agents in Ewes of M’Sila Governorate, Algeria Laatra ZEMMOURI1.4, Mohamed BESBACI2.3, Adel MAMMERI1 and Mohamed LAFRI2.3 1University of M’Sila, Department of Agronomic Sciences, M’Sila, 28000, Algeria 2Institute of Veterinary Sciences, University of Blida 1, PB 270, Soumâa, Blida, Algeria 3Laboratory of biotechnology related to animal reproduction, Institute of Veterinary Sciences, Blida, Algeria 4National High School of Veterinary Medicine, Bab-Ezzouar, Algiers, Algeria * corresponding author: [email protected] Bulletin UASVM Veterinary Medicine 77(2)/2020 Print ISSN 1843-5270; Electronic ISSN 1843-5378 doi:10.15835/buasvmcn-vm:2020.0004 Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence, risk factors and zoonotic threats of the major abortive bacterial agents in sheep of M’Sila Governorate. A total of 184 serum samples were collected from ewes among Coxiella burnetti, Chlamydia abortus, Brucella spp. and Salmonella abortusovis via ELISA. Simultaneously, a questionnaire was used to collect breeding management data. Seropositive results were as16 follows sheep flocks: Coxiella and burnetti tested (27.9%),for Salmonella abortusovis (15.9%), Chlamydia abortus (10.9%) and Brucella spp. between Coxiella burnetti seropositivity and presence of cats in farms (OR = 5.75; 95% CI = 1.86-19.9; p= 0.001), while(3.8%).The promiscuity use of univariatewith newly analysis introduced and multivariateanimals was logisticassociated regression to Chlamydia showed abortus a highly seropositivity significant correlation (OR=3.37; 95%CI=1.01-14.9; p= 0.04). Additionally to the economic losses, the dissemination of Coxiella burnetti and Brucella spp. presents uncontrollable zoonotic hazards. Keywords: abortive bacterial agents, seroprevalence, ELISA, risk factors, ewes. Introduction and stillbirth occurrences (Rekiki et al., 2005, According to the FAO (FAOSTAT, 2019), the Borel et al., 2014). The economic loss linked to recorded ovine population in Algeria stands the loss of 160 animals and 4146 L of milk due to is 28.393.602 heads. As a main source of meat abortions in Mali, a country neighbor of Algeria, production, sheep farming is the most practiced has been estimated at 7,887,880 FCFA (11,989 compared to other domestic species in Algeria. Euros according to the conversion rate of June According to Algerian Ministry of Agriculture 22, 2020) (Sidibe et al., 2013). This constitutes a and Rural Development (MARD, 2018), sheep considerable shortfall for farmers, particularly in represents 78% of the total livestock in Algeria. countries where incomes are quite low. To these However, abortions are considered as a losses, we could add the indirect losses relating to research, prophylaxis and vaccination programs for each abortive agent. themajor lack scourge of accurate in small diagnosis ruminants’ tools. Theyflocks. result When in Sheep farming in Algeria, is mainly conducted installed, they are difficult to eradicate because of according to extensive and semi intensive systems, very significant economic losses due to abortion Sero-epidemiological Investigation of the Major Abortive Bacterial Agents in Ewes of M’Sila Governorate, Algeria 25 also breeding and lambing seasons are random and tests are essential to reveal presence of microbial et al., 2015). organisms. The main infectious agents of abor- tions in sheep are ; Brucella melitensis, Chlamydia whichchronogically have multiple indefinite causes, (Kardjadj often lack precision, abortus (C. abortus), Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii), consequentlyThe observation farmers and habituallynotification consider of abortions their Toxoplasma gondii (T.gondii), Salmonella abortuso- ewes as infertile especially when these abortions vis (S. abortusovis) and Border disease virus (BDV) occur at an early stage of gestation. (Edmondson et al., 2002; Fthenakis et al., 2012; Algeria is known for its varied climate; Medi- Borel et al., 2014). Moreover, these agents are terranean in the North and Saharan in the South. mostly zoonotic (Acha and Szyfres, 2003 ; Toma This would explain the disparity in abortion rates et al., 2004 ; Borel et al., 2014). across the different regions of the country accord- Among other factors, lack of hygiene and et al. (2015) whom reported high poor management which increase infection rate prevalence of abortive agents in small ruminants’ by abortive agents, the risk of abortions and ing to Kardjadj stillbirths (Dabaja et al., Hamza and Bouyoucef (2013) reported abortion of the risk factors associated with abortions and flocks ranging from 40 to 88.2%. Furthermore, infection occurrence with 2019). abortive Thus, identification agents can North and the East of Algeria. ratesInfectious up to 90% agents in small are ruminants’the most plausible flocks of cau the- The objective of the present study is to evaluate ses of abortions in sheep as compared to non- theserve seroprevalence in optimizing flocks’and risk reproductive factors for efficiency. abortive infectious agents. Nevertheless, their differential bacterial agents in ewes of M’Sila Governorate, focusing on the most incriminated; C. burnetti, clinical diagnosis is often difficult and laboratory Figure1: Distribution of surveyed municipalities in study area Bulletin UASVM Veterinary Medicine 77 (2) / 2020 26 ZEMMOURI and al. C. abortus, Brucella spp. and S. abortusovis, also highlight the eventual zoonotic risks. transported into low temperature cooler to the universitytubes. After of identification,M’Sila laboratory blood and samples then centri were- Material and methods fuged at 3000 round per min for 10 min. The sera Description of the study area were stored at – 20° C until tested. The study was carried out in eight municipali- Serological tests ties of M’Sila Governorate (Figure 1). This region All serological tests were done in the labora- occupies the central highlands of Northern Algeria tory of serology of Batna Univesity Hospital Center 2. Its population (UHC). Salmonella serology was performed using is estimated at 1.210.952 inhabitants, with an av- the recently developed and validated ELISA kit erageand covers density an ofarea 66 ofinhabitants/km 18175 Km 2.It is charac- (Diatheva S.r.l, ITALY). The test intended for the terized by a continental climate; semi-arid to arid, detection of IgG anti-Salmonella abortusovis. The - assay had sheep-level characteristics of 98 % for thevery mountainous reduced maritime zones influences, are culminating a climatic at the gra al- C. burnetti, C. abortus and Brucella spp., were de- titudedient strongly of 1800 influencedm while the by pre-saharan the topography, zones since re- tectedspecificity by a andcommercial 96% for indirect sensitivity. ELISA Antibodies kit (ID-VET, to cord an altitude of below 300m. Thus, the climate Grablels-FRANCE) according to the manufactur- of M’Sila Governorate is contrasted with a long hot er’s instructions. The presence or absence of an- and dry summer season and cold and rainy win- tibodies against bacterial abortive agents is deter- ter season (ANDI, 2013). It depends on a low and mined by calculating the positive to sample ratio irregular pluviometry not exceeding 250 mm per for each serum. year. Regarding animal production, study region is Data analysis a steppe land with an agro-pastoral vocation (Se- Data was analyzed using R studio version noussi et al., 2014). It includes an important sheep (version 3.6.2; R Foundation for statistical Com- herd of over 1.630.000 heads (M’Sila DAS, 2018). puting, Vienna, Austria). Using generalized linear Study design and sampling mixed effects models (glmer function of the lme 4 - - rence of at least one abortion. An epidemiological able to account for variation between farms and investigationThe flocks using were anselected interview based via on structuredthe occur package).We used farm identity as a random vari questionnaire was conducted focusing on the as- binary data using logistic regression. Tables rep- sessment of risk factors associated with abortion resentingunequal sample serology sizes results for each to the farm. various We analyzedabortive incidence and ELISA test seropositivity. This cross- sectional survey took place from January 2016 to considered positive for an abortive agent if at least June 2018. Questions asked concerned sampled oneagents ewe and was their seropositive percentages for were the made. reliable A flock ELISA is ewes, with dominant items as age, breed, place of test. The disparity of seropositivity between the born (autochthonic or purchased from livestock eight municipalities of study area, were analyzed using Chi-square test. Univariable then multivari- - able logistic regression analyses were performed gramsmarkets). and While close promiscuityother questions with focused other animals. on herd for quantifying the associations between seroposi- managementBlood sample items; collection flock size, and vaccination serum pro separation Blood samples were collected from December thetivity multivariable and specific risklogistic factors. regression Variables model. with aThe p- 2017 to June 2018, using a reasoned sampling ac- explanatoryvalue of ≤ 0.2 variable in univariable was assessed analysis with were p-value used in < cording to recommendations of Toma et al.(2001); 0.05 which was considered to be statistically sig- they were taken from ewes in which parturition or abortion occurred since lesser than one week and 2 weeks, respectively, according to owners’ state- nificant.Results