Isolation and identification of Brucella melitensis using bacteriological and molecular tools from aborted goats in the Afar region of north-eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

Background Infection with Brucella melitensis ( B. melitensis) is one of the most important causes of abortion in goats and sheep, and also causes severe systemic disease in exposed humans. In Ethiopia, based on seroepidemiological studies, brucellosis is known to be endemic. However, there is little information on the isolation and molecular detection of Brucella species in small ruminants. Therefore, the present study was conducted in the Amibara district of Afar Region of Ethiopia to isolate and molecularly detect Brucella infection in small ruminants. Results Out of the total 64 samples cultured, eight samples (five vaginal swabs and three milk) were positive for Brucella species based on colony morphology, growth characteristics, modified acid fast staining and biochemical tests results. Further identification using Brucella- ladder PCR method showed that four of the isolates (three from vaginal swabs and one from milk) from goats amplified fragments of 1071 bp, 794 bp, 587 bp, 450 bp and 152 bp in band size. The molecular result combined with the microbiological and biochemical characteristics of the isolates indicated that the isolates were strains of B. melitensis . Conclusion The finding of this study could suggest economic and zoonotic significance of B. melitensis and warrants for the need for control strategies in livestock and creation of awareness in the pastoral communities on the safe consumption of foods of animal origin and avoidance of physical contact with aborted materials. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12866-019-1474-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Investigation of Brucellosis Using Molecular and Serological Tools in Selected Sites of Maekel Region, Eritrea

“…The PCR techniques detected 4 (6%) out of 71 vaginal swab samples from goats, while all sheep swab samples were negative. Similar results in Ethiopia by Tekle et al [18] indicated 3 out of 27 positivity using combined culture isolation and Bruce ladder multiplex PCR assay in goat vaginal swab. Moreover, in Egypt Ashraf et al, 2019 shows higher detection 10/18 does and 4/25 ewe vaginal swab samples applying similar methods [19].…”

Integrated human-animal sero-surveillance of Brucellosis in the pastoral Afar and Somali regions of Ethiopia

“…Brucella abortus was isolated in dairy cattle [ 52 ], whereas B . melitensis was isolated in goats in Amibara woreda (Afar) [ 53 ]. Although all livestock species were affected, it is at this stage difficult to conclude whether there is cross-species transmission of either B .…”

Contamination of Bovine Milk With Brucella spp.: A Current Public Health Menace in Kurdistan Province of Iran

“…All of the isolates were molecularly confirmed as the genus and further characterized as B. abortus and B. melitensis. Some other internal (33,34) and external (35,36) researches have also been documented the identification of zoonotic Brucella spp. in ruminants' milk samples using conventional bacteriological method and molecular confirmation of the isolates using PCR.…”

“…in ruminants' milk samples using conventional bacteriological method and molecular confirmation of the isolates using PCR. The reported contamination rate was from 1.28% to 25% (33)(34)(35)(36).…”