CHLAMYDIA ABORTUS IN DAIRY CATTLE: SEROSTATUS AND RISK FACTORS IN ALGERIAN NORTHEASTERN HIGH PLATEAUS.

Chlamydia abortus is a zoonotic abortifacient bacterium causing a large variety of disorders with detrimental economic impact, mainly in ruminants. A total of 345 cows belonging to 42 herds were randomly sampled to conduct a cross-sectional study, aiming to establish the seroprevalence of this pathogen (using iELISA test) and associated risk factors in dairy cattle from Oum-El-Bouaghi and Setif provinces (Northeastern Algerian high plateaus). In the investigated samples, specific chlamydial antibodies were detectable in 58 cows (16.8%) belonging to 13 herds (30.9%). The individual animal seroprevalence ranged from 12.6% (18/143) to 19.8% (40/202) in Oum- El-Bouaghi and Setif, respectively, and the herd prevalence varied from 30% (06/20) to 31.8% (07/22). At the herd level, none of the investigated factors had an effect on chlamydial antibodies prevalence, while, at the individual animal level, associations (univariately evaluated at p<0.05) were established for herd size, deficient disinfection, origin of cows and feed. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed origin of cows to be protective and history of infertility as a potential risk factor in Setif only. These results are clear evidences that C. abortus is endemic in our dairy cattle population and plays a role in decreased reproductive performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlamydia abortus je zoonotska abortifacijentna bakterija koja uzrokuje veliki broj poremećaja sa štetnim ekonomskim posljedicama, većinom kod preživača. Slučajnim uzorkovanjem je odabrano ukupno 345 krava iz 42 stada kako bi se provelo presječno istraživanje sa ciljem određivanja seroprevalence ovog patogena (korištenjem iELISA testa) i povezanih faktora rizika kod mliječnih krava u provincijama Oum-El-Bouaghi i Setif (visoki platoi Sjeveroistočnog Alžira). U istraživanom uzorku, specifična hlamidijalna antitijela su detektovana kod 58 krava (16.8%) iz 13 stada (30.9%). Kod jedinki se seroprevalenca kretala između 12.6% (18/143) i 19.8% (40/202) u Oum-El-Bouaghi i Setifu, dok je prevalenca varirala između 30% (06/20) i 31.8% (07/22). Na razini stada niti jedan od istraživačkih faktora nije imao učinka na prevalence hlamidijalnih antitijela, dok je na individualnoj razini povezanost (univarijantnom analizom procijenjena na p<0.05) dokazana za veličinu stada, neadekvatnu dezinfekciju, porijeklo krava i ishranu. Multivarijantna logistička regresijska analiza je pokazala da porijeklo krava ima zaštitnu ulogu, a da je neplodnost potencijalni faktor rizika samo kod Setifa. Ovi rezultati su jasan dokaz da je C. abortus endemična u populaciji naših mliječnih krava i da igra ulogu u smanjenim reproduktivnim performansama. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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