Sero-Epidemiological Investigation of Abortifacient Bacteria in Goats and Sheep in Three Districts of Sindh Province of Pakistan

Abortifacient bacteria incur high production and economic losses in small ruminants worldwide. The present study assessed the prevalence of Coxiella burnetii, Chlamydia abortus, and Brucella melitensis in 178 sheep and goat samples obtained from Hyderabad, Tando Allahyar, and Mirpurkhas districts of Sindh Province of Pakistan. The results revealed that the seroprevalence of Q fever was significantly (p<0.05) higher than chlamydiosis and brucellosis (43.82% vs. 37.7% and 17.98%). The districts-wise incidences of seroprevalence were also significant in this study, as C. burnetii antibodies were significantly (p<0.05) higher in Hyderabad than Tando Allahyar and Mirpurkhas (70.37% vs. 37.25% and 9.09%); C. abortus higher (p<0.05) in Mirpurkhas than Hyderabad and Tando Allahyar (100%, 40.74%, 21.56%, respectively); but B. melitensis higher (p>0.05) in Hyderabad than Tando Allahyar and Mirpurkhas (29.63%, 15.69%, 0%, respectively). The animal-wise seroprevalence results also exhibited significant differences (p<0.05), as the incidence of higher C. abortus antibodies (42.46% and 12.50%); but lowerB. melitensis (10.95% and 50%) in goats than sheep sera, respectively. However, there was no clear relation between the breed of the ruminants and their seropositivity for C. burnetii, C. abortus, and B. melitensis. In addition, the seroprevalence of C. burnetii was higher (p<0.05) in nulliparous goats and sheep than multiparous and primiparous (37.50% and 50%, 35.89% and 40%, 30.76 and 25%, respectively). Moreover, C. abortus antibodies were higher (p<0.05) in multiparous goats and sheep than primiparous and nulliparous (48.71% and 20%, 38.46% and 0%, 25% and 0%, respectively). Furthermore, the incidence of B. melitensis antibodies was higher (p<0.05) in nulliparous than primiparous and multiparous goats (37.50%, 11.53%, and 5.12%, respectively), but higher (p<0.05) in primiparous than nulliparous and multiparous sheep (75%, 50%, 40%, respectively). Finally, the sera found positive on ELISA for C. abortus, C. burnetii, and B. melitensis antibodies. In conclusion, the widespread prevalence of the three abortifacient bacteria was responsible for the production and economic losses of goats and sheep in the three selected districts of Sindh Province of Pakistan.