Yetmiş dört Saanen x Kilis ve 63 Angora olmak üzere toplam 137 keçiye ait serum örneği Listeria monocytogenes, Toxoplasma gondii ve Brucella melitensis'e karşı antikorların belirlenmesi amacıyla sırasıyla Osebold agglutination testi, Sabin Feldman Dye testi ve Mikro Aglütinasyon Testine tabi tutulmuştur. Listeriozis, Toxoplazmozis ve Brucellozis'in toplam prevalansları sırasıyla % 58.39, % 81.75 ve % 24.08 olarak bulunmuştur. Yetmiş dört Saanen x Kilis melezi keçide seropositiflik oranları Listeriozis, Toxoplazmozis ve Brucellozis için sırasıyla % 60.81, % 81.0827 ve % 20.27 olarak saptanmıştır. Altmış üç Angora keçisinde yukarıda sözü edilen mikroorganizmalara karşı test edilen seropositiflik oranları sırasıyla %,55.5 % 82.53 ve % 28.57 olarak belirlenmiştir.

Bu çalışmanın sonuçlarına bakıldığında Listeriozis, Toxoplazmozis ve Brucellozis infeksiyonlarının bu yöredeki keçilerde varlığı belirlenmiş ve bu infeksiyonların tamamının hem Veteriner Hekimler, halk sağlığı yetkilileri ve hayvan yetiştiricileri tarafından dikkate alınması gerektiği kanaatine varıldı.

Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate and intracellular parasite, is the aetiological agent of Toxoplasmosis. In goat and sheep abortion and associated neonatal mortality is common ^{6, 7}. Brucella melitensis, is the main causative agent responsible for caprine brucellosis ⁸. The agent is highly pathogenic for humans and appears to naturally exist in the Mediterranean area, and is widespread throughout the world. Abortion, orchitis, epididymitis, and retained plasenta may be noticed as clinical signs of the disease ⁸.

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the prevalence of infection in Saanen x Kilis and Angora goats resided in Ankara with a selected group of infectious organisms. Therefore we also present in this work, serological herd level analysis for detection of Listeriosis, Toxoplasmosis and Brucellosis. Moreover we aimed to provide useful data on recognizing the presence and epidemiology of all 3 diseases together.

In the third part of the study a total of 63 blood samples were collected from an equivocal number of Angora goats resided at 5 different locations in Ankara. All samples were collected during visits provide at local commercial farms. At the time of sampling physical examination including respiratory rate and rectal temperature was performed for all goats. Age distribution of the goats was as follows: 1 year-old (n=25), 2-year-old (n=18), 3 year-old (n=9), 4 year-old (n=6), 5 year-old (n=3), 6 year-old (n=1) and 7 year old (n=1). Of the 63 goats, 11 had a history of abortion. All goats were otherwise healthy and there was no sign of any disease condition.

Blood examination
Diagnosis of Listeria monocytogenes infection Osebold Agglutination Test (OAT)
Determination of L. monocytogenes “O” antibodies was carried out with the method described previously ⁹. The test antigen in OAT was prepared in Refik Saydam National Hygiene Center, Department of Communicable Diseases Research. All the analyses were carried out in 3 different steps. On first occasion, the whole cell antigens were prepared from Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 29213) strains as described previously ⁹. At the next step, the antigens were prepared from L. monocytogenes 1/2a, 1/2b, 4b, 4c and 4d strains and were combined within the same suspension. Agglutination test was performed as a last step after absorption of sera samples with S. aureus antigen ⁹. Titers > 1/100 were considered as positive.

Diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection
Sabin-Feldman Dye Test (SFDT) Protocol: Sera samples were analyzed against anti-T.gondii antibodies in fourfold dilutions at 1/16; 1/64; 1/256 and 1/1024 according to the modified standard Sabin-Feldman dye test (SFDT) ¹⁰.The SFDT result was suggested positive, even if more than 50% of tachyzoits were unstained at ≥1:16 dilution as detected under the light microscope (x 400).

Diagnosis of Brucella infection
Brucella Micro Agglutination Test (MAT): The test antigen was prepared in Refik Saydam National Hygiene Center, Department of Communicable Diseases Research. The MAT was performed with regard to the prior description ¹¹. Two-fold serial dilutions of sera, ranging from 1:2.5 to 1:40, were prepared in microtiter plates within phenol saline. Fifty µl B. abortus S99 antigen solution stained with Safranin-O was added to each well including diluted serum and within the plate covering lid. Positive and negative controls were included for each of the running test. Phenol saline and the antigen were included as the negative control covering wells. The results were evaluated following 18 h of incubation at 37º C. Positive (large diffuse red mat) or negative (compact red dot) results were evaluated within the agglutination results.

Büyütmek İçin Tıklayın

Table 1: Anti-L.monocytogenes “O” antibody titers in Saanen x Kilis and Angora goats.

SFDT test for Toxoplasma gondii
By use of SFD test, the overall prevalence of Toxoplasmosis was 81.75% (112/137). Among 74 Saanen x Kilis goats 60 (81.0827%) were seropositive. The titers of 60 seropositive goats were as follows; 1/16 for 23, 1/64 for 30, 1/256 for 4, 1/1024 for 3 (Table 2). Among 63 Angora goats tested 52 were seropositive (82.53%) with titers as follows; 1/16 for 19, 1/64 for 23, 1/256 for 4 and 1/1024 (Table 2).

Büyütmek İçin Tıklayın

Table 2: Anti-T.gondii antibodies in Saanen x Kilis and Angora goats.

MAT test for Brucella infection
By use of MAT test the overall prevalence of Brucellosis was 24.08% (33/137). Among 74 Saanen x Kilis goats 15 (20.27%) were seropositive. The titers of 15 seropositive goats were as follows; 1/20 for 3, 1/40 for 2, 1/80 for 6, 1/160 for 3 and 1/640 for 1 (Table 3). Among 63 Angora goats tested 18 were seropositive (28.57%) with titers as follows; 1/20 for 1, 1/40 for 4, 1/80 for 8, 1/160 for 2 and 1/640 for 3 (Table 3).

Büyütmek İçin Tıklayın

Table 3: Brucella antibody titers in Saanen x Kilis and Angora goats.

In conclusion higher rates of seropositivity against L. monocytogenes in goats resided in Ankara may suggest that L. monocytogenes infection is prevalent and should be taken into consideration by veterinarians and public health officers.

Presence and epidemiology of Brucellosis in Saanen x Kilis and Angora goats
In Kayseri region 12 (7.79%) out of 154 sheep showed seropositivity against Brucellosis ¹⁴. Another study undertaken in Aydin province revealed 2% seropositivity for Brucella antibodies in sheeps by use of agglutination tests ¹². By use of tube agglutination test in Kars city 3 (2.91%) out of 103 sheep were found seropositive against Brucellosis ¹⁵. In the present study by use of MAT the overall prevalence of Brucellosis was 24.08% (33/137). Among 15 (20.27%) seropositive Saanen x Kilis goats, titers were 1/20 for 3, 1/40 for 2, 1/80 for 6, 1/160 for 3 and 1/640 for 1 sera samples. Among 18 (28.57%) seropositive Angora goats tested titers were; 1/20 for 1, 1/40 for 4, 1/80 for 8, 1/160 for 2 and 1/640 for 3 sera samples. In contrast to the previously reported seroprevalence studies in Turkey among different regions in sheeps, the overall prevalence detected in goats was markedly higher. Given the seroprevalence rates in the present study and the lack of detailed epidemiological studies in goats in Turkey, this fact indicates the necessity of further studies with greater goat populations to better understanding of the aetiology of this disease, which will become the prior subject of our future studies.

Presence and epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection in Saanen x Kilis and Angora goats
To the present authors' knowledge there has been limited data available regarding the seroepidemiology of Toxoplasmosis in goats in Ankara and in Turkey. In Angora goats resided in Eskisehir, anti-Toxoplama gondii antibodies were detected in 43 (43.87%) out of 98 sera samples ¹⁶. In a previous study performed on 68 Angora goats in Ankara vicinities, 37 goats (54%) were found to be positive for T. gondii antbodies by use of Sabin Feldman Dye test ¹⁷. In another seroprevalence study in Kayseri of the 154 sheep tested by use of Sabin Feldman Dye test, 52 (33.76%) were found to be seropositive against Toxoplasmosis ¹⁴. Similarly in another seroprevalance study in Kars city, Turkey, 53 (51.45%) out of 103 sheep were found to be positive against T. gondii antbodies ¹⁵. In Nigde, a central Anatolian city in Turkey, by use of Sabin Feldman Dye test, 56 out of 110 sheep and 19 out of 46 goats (41%) had seropositivity against Toxoplasmosis ¹⁸. Another prevalence study performed in Cankiri revealed 24 (63.15%) seropositive samples out of 38 goats ¹⁹. In the present study a seropositivity rate of Toxoplasmosis was 81.75% (112/137). Among 74 Saanen x Kilis goats 60 (81.0827%) were seropositive with of 1/16 for 23, 1/64 for 30, 1/256 for 4, 1/1024 for 3 sera samples. Among 63 Angora goats tested 52 were seropositive (82.53%) with titers as follows; 1/16 for 19, 1/64 for 23, 1/256 for 4 and 1/1024 sera samples. In contrast to the previous reports, the overall prevalence determined in the present study was markedly higher. Although, as aforementioned above, both the previous and the present study had the same methodology, the variable seroprevalence rates may be attributable to the geographical differences.

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