BACTERIOLOGICAL STUDY ON PREVALENCE OF Brucella melitensis IN SMALL RUMINANTS AT DIYALA GOVERNORATE

Abstract

This work aimed at detecting prevalence of Brucella infection in flocks of sheep and goats with previous and recent history of abortion and decreased fertility in certain districts of Diyala Governorate. A cross sectional bacteriological study was conducted from September/2016 to June/2017. Tissue samples as placentas, fetuses and vaginal swabs were collected from aborted does and ewes; vaginal swabs were taken from females at random and from those with previous history of abortion, still birth and infertility. Using Stamp stain; acid fast, bright red coco-bacilli were detected in primary smears prepared from 27 (39.70%) out of 68 tissue samples (placentas, fetuses and vaginal swabs from sheep and goats). Meanwhile, Brucella spp. was isolated in 2 (4.54%), 1 (33.3%) of the vaginal discharge, placentas, respectively and none isolation from fetal stomach contents. Growth characteristics stain reaction and bacterial morphology indicated that the isolation was Brucella species; while results of biochemical activities and biotyping assays showed that the three isolated strains of Brucella in this study were B. melitensis biotype 1. Result obtained in this study indicated that B. melitensis biovar. 1 is prevalent in this Governorate and it is a main cause of abortion and infertility in small ruminants; as no other known cause of abortion was detected during the bacteriological study.