Forelimb Lameness in Merino and Akkaraman Sheep Associated with Naturally Occuring Brucella melitensis Infection

Abstract

Background/Aim: Brucellosis has been still been recognized as an important infectious disease among ruminants worldwide. Disease reports in recent years indicated an elevation in the number of outbreaks in sheep. The objective of the present study was to describe forelimb lameness observed in a mixed Merino and Akkaraman sheep flock associated with Brucella melitensis infection. Material and Method: A descriptive case control study was conducted on 107 sheep in a sheep flock consisting 450 mixed Merino and Akkaraman during the period of April-September 2012. The brucellosis status of the present flock was established through serological testing of sera samples by use of Rose Bengal Plate RBPT , serum agglutination SAT tests and polymerase chain reaction PCR applied in series. Results and Conclusion: Out of those 107 sera, RBPT revelaed 93 86% positivity, and out of the latter animals SAT recorded 60 65% positive samples with titers equal or above 1/40, whereas PCR recorded 83 89% positivity. Seventeen out of 107 cases tested showed forelimb lameness, interestingly all those animals were detected to have forelimb lameness with SAT titers 1/40 and > and PCR positivity. Clinical, epizootiological and microbiological aspects of Brucella infection were described in the present article.

Keywords

• forelimb,lameness,Merino,Akkaraman,sheep,Brucella melitensis

Merinos ve Akkaraman Koyunlarında Doğal Brucella melitensis Enfeksiyonuna Bağlı Ön Bacak Topallığı

Abstract

Özbilgi/Amaç: Brusellozis, halen geviş getirenlerin dünya çapında önemli bir enfeksiyöz hastalığı olarak kabul edilmektedir. Son yıllarda hastalığa ilişkin raporlar koyun salgınlarının sayısında bir artışı göstermektedir. Bu çalışmada karışık Merinos ve Akkaraman koyun sürüsünde Brucella melitensis enfeksiyonuna bağlı şekillenen ön bacak topallığının tanımlanması amaçlandı. Materyal ve Metot: Nisan-Eylül 2012 ayları arasında 450 başlık karışık Merinos ve Akkaraman koyun sürüsünde yapılan tanımlayıcı vaka kontrol çalışması 107 koyun üzerinde gerçekleştirildi. Sürüde brusellozis durumunun belirlenmesi amacıyla serum örneklerinde sırasıyla Rose Bengal Plate RBPT , serum aglütinasyon SAT testleri ve polimeraz zincir reaksiyonu PCR uygulandı. Bulgular ve Sonuç: Yüzyedi serumdan 93’ü %86 RBPT pozitif tespit edildi ve bu hayvanlardan yapılan testlerde, titresi 1/40 ve üzerinde olan 60 %65 örnek SAT pozitif bulunurken, 83 %89 örnek ise PCR pozitif olarak kaydedildi. 107 koyundan 17’sinde ön bacak topallığı gözlendi ve ilginç olarak bu hayvanların tümünün 1/40 ve üzeri SAT titrelerine sahip olduğu ve PCR pozitif oldukları tespit edildi. Bu makalede Brucella enfeksiyonu klinik, epizootiyolojik ve mikrobiyolojik yönden tanımlandı.

Keywords

• ön bacak,topallık,Merinos,Akkaraman,koyun,Brucella melitensis

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