Seroprevalence of zoonotic abortive diseases and their associated risk factors in Tunisian sheep
Abstract Background Abortion is a serious problem for sheep flocks and it is responsible for considerable economic losses. The epidemiological situation of abortion causing agents in sheep is poorly documented in Tunisia. This study aims to investigate the status of three abortion causing agents (Br...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-02-01
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| Series: | BMC Veterinary Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-022-03541-9 |
| _version_ | 1797864418447458304 |
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| author | Kaouther Guesmi Sana Kalthoum Aymen Mamlouk Mohamed Naceur Baccar Bassem BelHajMohamed Haikel Hajlaoui Aymen Toumi Jamel Cherni Chédia Seghaier Lilia Messadi |
| author_facet | Kaouther Guesmi Sana Kalthoum Aymen Mamlouk Mohamed Naceur Baccar Bassem BelHajMohamed Haikel Hajlaoui Aymen Toumi Jamel Cherni Chédia Seghaier Lilia Messadi |
| author_sort | Kaouther Guesmi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Abortion is a serious problem for sheep flocks and it is responsible for considerable economic losses. The epidemiological situation of abortion causing agents in sheep is poorly documented in Tunisia. This study aims to investigate the status of three abortion causing agents (Brucella spp, Toxoplasma gondii, and Coxiella burnetii) among organized flocks in Tunisia. Results A total of 793 sample blood collected from twenty-six flocks in seven governorates in Tunisia, were tested by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (i-ELISA) for antibodies against three abortion causing agents (Brucella spp, Toxoplasma gondii, and Coxiella burnetii). Risk factors for individual-level seroprevalence were analyzed using a logistic regression model. Results revealed that 19.7%, 17.2%, and 16.1% of the tested sera were positive for toxoplasmosis, Q fever, and brucellosis, respectively. Mixed infection was found in all the flocks with 3 to 5 responsible abortive agents simultaneously. Logistic regression showed that the management practices (control of new introduction, common grazing and watering point, workers exchange, presence of lambing box on the farm) and the history of infertility and the presence of abortion in neighboring flocks were likely to increase the probability of being infected by the three abortive agents. Conclusions Evidence of the positive relationship between seroprevalence of abortion causing agents and several risk factors, suggests further investigations to better understand the etiology of infectious abortions in flocks to develop an applicable preventive and control program. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T22:51:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-49ae91b47d0045ec9f527833272cbb26 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1746-6148 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T22:51:26Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Veterinary Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-49ae91b47d0045ec9f527833272cbb262023-03-22T11:35:56ZengBMCBMC Veterinary Research1746-61482023-02-0119111010.1186/s12917-022-03541-9Seroprevalence of zoonotic abortive diseases and their associated risk factors in Tunisian sheepKaouther Guesmi0Sana Kalthoum1Aymen Mamlouk2Mohamed Naceur Baccar3Bassem BelHajMohamed4Haikel Hajlaoui5Aymen Toumi6Jamel Cherni7Chédia Seghaier8Lilia Messadi9National Center for Zoosanitary Vigilance, Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and FisheriesNational Center for Zoosanitary Vigilance, Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and FisheriesDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Institution of Agricultural Research and Higher Education, National School of Veterinary Medicine, Univ. ManoubaNational Center for Zoosanitary Vigilance, Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and FisheriesNational Center for Zoosanitary Vigilance, Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and FisheriesNational Center for Zoosanitary Vigilance, Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and FisheriesState-owned Land Office, Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and FisheriesNational Center for Zoosanitary Vigilance, Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and FisheriesNational Center for Zoosanitary Vigilance, Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and FisheriesDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Institution of Agricultural Research and Higher Education, National School of Veterinary Medicine, Univ. ManoubaAbstract Background Abortion is a serious problem for sheep flocks and it is responsible for considerable economic losses. The epidemiological situation of abortion causing agents in sheep is poorly documented in Tunisia. This study aims to investigate the status of three abortion causing agents (Brucella spp, Toxoplasma gondii, and Coxiella burnetii) among organized flocks in Tunisia. Results A total of 793 sample blood collected from twenty-six flocks in seven governorates in Tunisia, were tested by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (i-ELISA) for antibodies against three abortion causing agents (Brucella spp, Toxoplasma gondii, and Coxiella burnetii). Risk factors for individual-level seroprevalence were analyzed using a logistic regression model. Results revealed that 19.7%, 17.2%, and 16.1% of the tested sera were positive for toxoplasmosis, Q fever, and brucellosis, respectively. Mixed infection was found in all the flocks with 3 to 5 responsible abortive agents simultaneously. Logistic regression showed that the management practices (control of new introduction, common grazing and watering point, workers exchange, presence of lambing box on the farm) and the history of infertility and the presence of abortion in neighboring flocks were likely to increase the probability of being infected by the three abortive agents. Conclusions Evidence of the positive relationship between seroprevalence of abortion causing agents and several risk factors, suggests further investigations to better understand the etiology of infectious abortions in flocks to develop an applicable preventive and control program.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-022-03541-9AbortionSeroprevalenceELISABrucella sppCoxiella burnetiiToxoplasma gondii |
| spellingShingle | Kaouther Guesmi Sana Kalthoum Aymen Mamlouk Mohamed Naceur Baccar Bassem BelHajMohamed Haikel Hajlaoui Aymen Toumi Jamel Cherni Chédia Seghaier Lilia Messadi Seroprevalence of zoonotic abortive diseases and their associated risk factors in Tunisian sheep BMC Veterinary Research Abortion Seroprevalence ELISA Brucella spp Coxiella burnetii Toxoplasma gondii |
| title | Seroprevalence of zoonotic abortive diseases and their associated risk factors in Tunisian sheep |
| title_full | Seroprevalence of zoonotic abortive diseases and their associated risk factors in Tunisian sheep |
| title_fullStr | Seroprevalence of zoonotic abortive diseases and their associated risk factors in Tunisian sheep |
| title_full_unstemmed | Seroprevalence of zoonotic abortive diseases and their associated risk factors in Tunisian sheep |
| title_short | Seroprevalence of zoonotic abortive diseases and their associated risk factors in Tunisian sheep |
| title_sort | seroprevalence of zoonotic abortive diseases and their associated risk factors in tunisian sheep |
| topic | Abortion Seroprevalence ELISA Brucella spp Coxiella burnetii Toxoplasma gondii |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-022-03541-9 |
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