Abstract
BackgroundAbortion is considered an important disease problem of small ruminants in Borana pastoral area. A cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of chlamydiosis, coxiellosis (Q-fever) and brucellosis in small ruminants in selected districts of Borana zone.ResultsA total of 506 sheep and goats were tested using serological tests. Fifty (9.88%; 95% CI: 7.42, 12.82), 144 (28.46%; 95% CI: 24.56, 32.61) and none (0.00%; 95% CI: 0.00, 0.59) of them were positive for chlamydiosis, coxiellosis and brucellosis, respectively. History of abortion was recorded in 136 (32.00%; CI: 27.59, 36.67) of sheep and goats in the study area. The logistic regression analysis, however, showed that statistically significant difference ccurred among districts and between the species of small ruminants. The prevalence odd of antibodies against C. abortus was significantly lower in Miyo, Dire and Teltelle districts compared to Dillo. The odd of infection with this bacterium was lower in sheep than goats. Similarly the odd of infection with C. burnettii was significantly higher in Dillo district than the rest of the districts studied, higher in goats than sheep and higher in adult animals than young ones.ConclusionHigh prevalence of abortion is observed in sheep and goats in the study area. High seropositivity of C. burnetii and C. abortus in both sheep and goats tested implies risks of human infection by both diseases. Thus, attention needs to be paid to further study of both diseases in animals and humans in the area.
Highlights
Abortion is considered an important disease problem of small ruminants in Borana pastoral area
Abortion in small ruminants is caused by various infectious agents [1, 2], the common ones being Chlamydophila abortus (C. abortus) [3, 4], Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii) [5] and Brucella melitensis [6]
Out the total of 506 sheep and goats tested 50 (9.88%; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 7.42, 12.82), 144 (28.46%; 95% CI: 24.56, 32.61) and none (0.00%; 95% CI: 0.00, 0.59) of them were positive for chlamydiosis, coxiellosis and brucellosis, respectively
Summary
Abortion is considered an important disease problem of small ruminants in Borana pastoral area. Abortion is one of the reproductive wastages causing considerable economic losses in small ruminants through loss of fetus and reduced milk production. Abortion in small ruminants is caused by various infectious agents [1, 2], the common ones being Chlamydophila abortus (C. abortus) [3, 4], Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii) [5] and Brucella melitensis [6]. In addition to Chlamydiosis ( known as enzootic abortion) has been recognized since 1950 and is considered worldwide in distribution [10, 11]. Epidemiological investigations showed that chlamydiosis occurs in 44% of diagnosed abortion cases in UK, in 56% of the cases in Spain [16] and 69% in Egypt [17]
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