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

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.

Serological and molecular evidence of Brucella species in the rapidly growing pig sector in Kenya

“…are known to have host preference, cross-infection has previously been reported to be common in areas where mixed husbandry systems are practised (11,28,29). Similarly, the presence of B. melitensis in pigs' serum was recently reported in Egypt (15), whose prevalence is also comparable to a previous report from Latin America where B. melitensis was detected in pigs (30). In this study, the positive pigs were sourced from peri-urban and slum areas, where small-scale farmers keep mixed herds that facilitates close contact between the different animal species.…”

“…in pig serum in East Africa. Brucellosis is a widespread zoonotic disease and serological evidence of pig brucellosis has previously been described in Africa (15,(22)(23)(24)(25)(26). South America and Southeast Asia are considered to have a higher prevalence of porcine brucellosis, as compared to the other regions including Africa (1).…”

“…Quantitative, real-time PCR assays such as those developed by Matero et al (13) and Probert et al (14) have also significantly increased the ease of detection of Brucella DNA, moreover with the extraction of genomic material directly from clinical specimens (15). These test options and findings have indeed shed light on some complicated epidemiology and transmission of brucellosis between different hosts which unfortunately, have not been applied to the pig population in sub-Saharan Africa.…”

Serological and molecular evidence of Brucella species in the rapidly growing pig sector in Kenya

“…in pig serum in East Africa. Brucellosis is a widespread zoonotic disease and serological evidence of pig brucellosis has previously been described in Africa (15,(18)(19)(20)(21)(22). However, information on B. spp.…”

“…Recent studies have shown that there is indeed a complex and diverse distribution of the pathogen among different hosts, further complicated by farming systems and close interactions between wildlife and livestock (12). Quantitative, real-time PCR assays, such as those developed by Matero et al (13) and Probert et al (14), have also significantly increased the ease of detection of Brucella DNA, moreover, with the extraction of genomic material directly from clinical specimens (15). These test options and findings have shed light on the complicated epidemiology and transmission of brucellosis between different hosts which, unfortunately, have not been applied to the pig population in sub-Saharan Africa.…”