Molecular identification of Chlamydophila abortus in milk of Goat and Sheep of West Azarbaijan and its molecular characterization based on genes ۱۶S-rRNA and OMP

Background and Aim : Chlamydophila abortus is one of the pathogens which induce abortion in small ruminants; this pathogen has a trend for ruminant placenta and causes the disease commonly referred to as Ovine Enzootic Abortion (OEA).The objective of this study was carried out to investigate the prevalence and detection of Chlamydophila abortus DNA in milk samples collected from sheep and goat flocks with and without the history of abortion in west Azarbaijan by means of Nested PCR in conjunction with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and molecular identification of the outer membrane protein (OMP) gene by PCR.Methods : We have developed a Nested PCR for rapid simultaneous differential detection of C. abortus in raw milk samples taken from infected animals (sheep and goat) in Northwest of Iran (West Azerbaijan Province) and compared it with other diagnostic methods.A total number of ۳۶۰ milk samples were randomly collected from sheep and goat (۲۶ flocks with abortion and ten flocks without abortion) belonged to three different geographical areas in west Azarbaijan were tested. The milk samples were collected seasonally during ۲۰۱۸ and the age of animals were recorded. All the milk samples were subjected to DNA extraction.Results : The results showed that ۸.۶۱% (۹۵% CI: ۶.۱۳%–۱۱.۹۶%) of the examined milk samples (۱۱.۶۷ % sheep and ۵.۵۶% goat samples) were positive for C.abortus. There were signification regional, seasonal, age and animal type variations in the prevalence of C.abortus in the examined milk samples. There was a signification different in chlamydophila abortus shedding in milk was highly prevalent in autumn ۱۸.۱۱ (۹۵% CI: ۱۲.۳۸-۲۵.۷۱).Conclusion : It was concluded that sheep and goats population in west Azerbaijan should be considered as an important factor in the epidemiology of Chlamydophila and consequently in public health.