Pathogens (Nov 2019)

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

  • Aman Ullah Khan,
  • Falk Melzer,
  • Sherif Abdel Ghafar Elsayed El-Soally,
  • Mandy C. Elschner,
  • Shereen Aziz Mohamed,
  • Mohamed Abdelmonem Sayed Ahmed,
  • Uwe Roesler,
  • Heinrich Neubauer,
  • Hosny El-Adawy

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens8040248
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 4
p. 248

Abstract

Read online

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.

Keywords