Serological and Molecular Identification of Brucella spp. in Pigs from Cairo and Giza Governorates, Egypt.

El-Soally El-Soally,Khan Khan,Elschner Elschner,Melzer Melzer,El-Adawy El-Adawy,Sayed Ahmed Sayed Ahmed,Roesler Roesler,Mohamed Mohamed,Neubauer Neubauer

doi:10.3390/pathogens8040248

Abstract

Brucellosis is considered as endemic disease of animals and humans since thousands of years in Egypt. However, brucellosis in pigs has never been reported in Egypt. Thus, serological and molecular assays were applied to detect anti-Brucella antibodies and DNA in serum samples collected from pigs. In total 331 blood samples collected from male and female pigs at slaughterhouses of Cairo and Giza governorates were investigated using Brucella c- and i-ELISA and Brucella real-time PCR. Anti-Brucella antibodies were detected in 16 (4.83%) and 36 (10.8%) sera by i-ELISA and c-ELISA, respectively. Brucella DNA was detected in 10 (3.02%) seropositive samples and identified as Brucella melitensis (7/10) and Brucella suis (3/10). A higher prevelance was found in boars. This is the first study investigating pig brucellosis in Egypt. The results of this study will raise awareness for brucellosis in these farm animals and will help to develop effective control strategies.

Highlights

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease of public health importance affecting livestock, wildlife, and humans globally
In the Cairo governorate, 1.21% and 9.75% sera were positive while, in the Giza governorate, 6.02% and 11.2% were positive by i-ELISA and c-ELISA, respectively
Anti-Brucella antibodies were detected in 12.9% and 21.5% of boars by i-ELISA and c-ELISA, respectively

Summary

Introduction

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease of public health importance affecting livestock, wildlife, and humans globally. The Brucella (B.) genus includes eleven recognized species with varying host preferences, pathogenicity, and epidemiology [1,2]. The disease is well controlled in developed countries but is still endemic in many others with the highest records in humans in Middle East and Central Asian regions [3]. Brucellosis is one of the major livestock production constraints in Egypt [4]. It is likely that it has been endemic in Egypt for thousands of years [5,6]. The disease has been detected with increasing prevalence in livestock species but predominantly in ruminants [7,8].

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Discussion

Conclusion