Veterinary Research Forum

Identification of Chlamydia abortus, Coxiella burnetii, and Brucella species from ruminant fetal abomasal contents using molecular methods

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Ayfer Güllü Yücetepe 1
Sadiye Dılşa Ateş 1
Osman Yaşar Tel 1
Özden Dellal 1
Oktay Keskin 1
Ahmet Murat Saytekin 1
Sibel Kızıl 2
Ufuk Ülker 3
Efsun Melike Çeçen 2
Sevil Erdenliğ Gürbilek 1

1 Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Harran University, Şanliurfa, Türkiye

2 Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kirikkale University, Kirikkale, Türkiye

3 Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bozok University, Yozgat, Türkiye

https://doi.org/10.30466/vrf.2025.2052553.4653
Abstract
This study aimed to detect Coxiella burnetii, Chlamydia abortus, and Brucella species in the abomasal contents of aborted ruminant fetuses from the Central Anatolia region of Türkiye using PCR between 2020 and 2023. The abomasal contents of a total of 97 aborted fetuses from cattle, sheep, and goats with a history of abortion, collected between the years 2020 and 2023, were tested in this study. As a result of PCR analysis of 97 abomasal contents, four (4.10%; 95.00% confidence interval [CI]: 1.33 - 10.82) of them were C. abortus, including three sheep and one goat. Two (2.10%; 95.00% CI: 0.36 - 7.96) of them were C. burnetii, including one sheep and one cow. A total of 60 (61.90%; 95.00% CI: 51.40 - 71.37) samples from 47 cattle, nine sheep, and four goats were determined by Brucella genus-specific PCR. Following multiplex PCR analysis of the positive Brucella spp. samples, 39 (65.00%; 95.00% CI: 51.52 - 76.55) samples were identified as B. abortus, including two sheep, one goat, and 36 cattle. Additionally, 19 (31.70%; 95.00% CI: 20.60 - 45.09) isolates were identified as Brucella melitensis, including five sheep, two goats, and 12 cattle. In two sheep samples, both B. melitensis and C. abortus were identified from the same animals. In conclusion, Brucella spp. were the predominant abortion-causing pathogens, with C. abortus also contributing significantly. Effective control strategies under the One Health approach are essential to prevent the uncontrolled spread and inter-species transmission of these zoonotic agents in the region and country.

Keywords

Brucella
Chlamydia
Coxiella burnetii
One Health concept
Subjects
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Veterinary Research Forum
Volume 17, Issue 3
March 2026
Pages 153-160

  • Receive Date 04 February 2025
  • Revise Date 26 April 2025
  • Accept Date 20 May 2025

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