Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Seroprevalence and molecular characterization of Chlamydia abortus in frozen fetal and placental tissues of aborting ewes in northeastern Algeria

  • Regular Articles
  • Published:
Tropical Animal Health and Production Aims and scope Submit manuscript

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.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ababneh, H.S., Ababneh, M.M., Hananeh, W.M., Alsheyab, F.M., Jawasreh, K.I., Al-Gharaibeh, M.A., Ababneh, M.M., 2014. Molecular identification of chlamydial cause of abortion in small ruminants in Jordan. Tropical animal health and production, 46, 1407--1412.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Abu-Dalbouh, M.A., Ababneh, M.M., Giadinis, N.D., Lafi, S.Q., 2012. Ovine and caprine toxoplasmosis (Toxoplasma gondii) in aborted animals in Jordanian goat and sheep flocks. Tropical animal health and production, 44, 49--54.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Czopowicz, M., Kaba, J., Szalus-Jordanow, O., Nowicki, M., Witkowski, L., Nowicka, D., Frymus, T., 2010. Prevalence of antibodies against Chlamydophila abortus and Coxiella burnetii in goat herds in Poland. Polish journal of veterinary sciences, 13, 175--179.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Essig, A., Longbottom, D., 2015. Chlamydia abortus: new aspects of infectious abortion in sheep and potential risk for pregnant women. Current clinical microbiology reports, 2, 22--34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hartley, J.C., Kaye, S., Stevenson, S., Bennett, J., Ridgway, G., 2001. PCR detection and molecular identification of Chlamydiaceae species. Journal of clinical microbiology, 39, 3072--3079.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hireche, S., Bouaziz, O., Djenna, D., Boussena, S., Aimeur, R., Kabouia, R., Bererhi, E., 2014. Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with Chlamydophila spp. Infection in ewes in the northeast of Algeria. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 46, 467--473.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kalender, H., Kiliç, A., Eröksüz, H., Muz, A., Kilinç, Ü., Taşdemir, B., 2013. Identification of Chlamydophila abortus infection in aborting ewes and goats in Eastern Turkey. Revue de Médecine Vétérinaire 164, 6, 295--301.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lenzko, H., Moog, U., Henning, K., Lederbach, R., Diller, R., Menge, C., Sachse, K., Sprague, L.D., 2011. High frequency of chlamydial co-infections in clinically healthy sheep flocks. BMC veterinary research, 7, 29.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Livingstone, M., Wheelhouse, N., Maley, S.W., Longbottom, D., 2009. Molecular detection of Chlamydophila abortus in post-abortion sheep at oestrus and subsequent lambing. Veterinary Microbiology, 135, 134--141.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Longbottom, D., Livingstone, M., Maley, S., van der Zon, A., Rocchi, M., Wilson, K., Wheelhouse, N., Dagleish, M., Aitchison, K., Wattegedera, S., Nath, M., Entrican, G., Buxton, D., 2013. Intranasal infection with Chlamydia abortus induces dose-dependent latency and abortion in sheep. PLoS one 8 (2), e57950 doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0057950.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Mainar-Jaime, R.C., De La Cruz, C., Vázquez-Boland, J.A., 1998. Epidemiological study of chlamydial infection in sheep farms in Madrid, Spain. Small Ruminant Research 28, 131--138.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Masala, G., Porcu, R., Daga, C., Denti, S., Canu, G., Patta, C., Tola, S., 2007. Detection of pathogens in ovine and caprine abortion samples from Sardinia, Italy, by PCR. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation, 19, 96--98.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Merdja, S.E., Khaled, H., Aaziz, R., Vorimore, F., Bertin, C., Dahmani, A., Bouyoucef, A., Laroucau, K., 2015. Detection and genotyping of Chlamydia species responsible for reproductive disorders in Algerian small ruminants. Tropical animal health and production 47, 437--443.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pantchev, A., Sting, R., Bauerfeind, R., Tyczka, J., Sachse, K., 2009. New real-time PCR tests for species-specific detection of Chlamydophila psittaci and Chlamydophila abortus from tissue samples. Veterinary Journal 181, 145--150.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pinheiro Junior, J.W., Mota, R.A., Piatti, R.M., Oliveira, A.A., da Silva, A.M., de Oliveira Abreu, S.R., Anderlini, G.A., Valenca, R.M., 2010. Seroprevalence of antibodies to Chlamydophila abortus in Ovine in the State of Alagoas. Brazilian Journal of Microbiology, 41, 358--364.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Rodolakis, A., Salinas, J., Papp, J., 1998. Recent advances on ovine chlamydial abortion. Veterinary Research, 29, 275--288.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sammin, D.J., Markey, B.K., Bassett, B.K., Buxton, D., 2008. The ovine placenta and placentitis: a review. Veterinary Microbiology, 135, 90--97.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Santos, C.S.A.B., Piatti, R.M., Azevedo, S.S., Alves, C.J., Higino, S.S.S., Silva, L.C.R.M., Brasil, A.W.A., Gennari, S.M., 2012. Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with Chlamydophila abortus infection in dairy goats in the Northeast of Brazil. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira, 32, 11, 1082--1086.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • SPSS 20.0, 2011. SPSS software for windows evaluation version. SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stuen, S., Longbottom, D., 2011. Treatment and control of chlamydial and rickettsial infections in sheep and goats. The veterinary clinics of North America. Food animal practice, 27, 213--233.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, K., Livingstone, M., Longbottom, D., 2009. Comparative evaluation of eight serological assays for diagnosing Chlamydophila abortus infection in sheep. Veterinary Microbiology, 135, 38--45.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research has been conducted under the auspices of the Algerian Directorate General for Scientific Research and Technological Development as a National Research Project (code 1/u250/342).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Management of Animal Health and Productions Laboratory, Institute of Veterinary Sciences, University of Frères Mentouri Constantine 1, Constantine, Algeria

    Sana Hireche, Omar Bouaziz & Sabrina Boussena

  2. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan

    Mustafa Mohammed Kheir Ababneh

Authors
  1. Sana Hireche
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mustafa Mohammed Kheir Ababneh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Omar Bouaziz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Sabrina Boussena
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sana Hireche.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

None of the authors of this paper has a financial or personal relationship with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias the content of the paper.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hireche, S., Ababneh, M.M.K., Bouaziz, O. et al. Seroprevalence and molecular characterization of Chlamydia abortus in frozen fetal and placental tissues of aborting ewes in northeastern Algeria. Trop Anim Health Prod 48, 255–262 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-015-0944-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-015-0944-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation