Epizootic abortion related to infections by Chlamydophila abortus and Chlamydophila pecorum in water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

Greco, G.; Corrente, M.; Buonavoglia, D.; Campanile, G.; Di Palo, R.; Martella, V.; Bellacicco, A.L.; D’Abramo, M.; Buonavoglia, C.

doi:10.1016/j.theriogenology.2008.01.018

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Volume 69, Issue 9 , Pages 1061-1069, June 2008

Epizootic abortion related to infections by Chlamydophila abortus and Chlamydophila pecorum in water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

G. Greco
- Department of Animal Health and Wellbeing, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010 Valenzano, Italy
- Corresponding author at: Department of Animal Health and Well-being, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, S.p.^le per Casamassima km 3, 70010 Valenzano (Bari), Italy. Tel.: +39 080 4679818; fax: +39 080 4679843.
M. Corrente
- Department of Animal Health and Wellbeing, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010 Valenzano, Italy
D. Buonavoglia
- Department of Animal Health and Wellbeing, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010 Valenzano, Italy
G. Campanile
- DISCIZIA, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, “Federico II” University, Via Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, Italy
R. Di Palo
- DISCIZIA, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, “Federico II” University, Via Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, Italy
V. Martella
- Department of Animal Health and Wellbeing, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010 Valenzano, Italy
A.L. Bellacicco
- Department of Animal Health and Wellbeing, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010 Valenzano, Italy
M. D’Abramo
- Department of Animal Health and Wellbeing, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010 Valenzano, Italy
C. Buonavoglia
- Department of Animal Health and Wellbeing, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010 Valenzano, Italy

Received 11 July 2007; received in revised form 7 January 2008; accepted 12 January 2008. published online 28 March 2008.

Abstract

Water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) are affected by high rates of embryonic mortality and abortion related to infectious diseases and non-infectious factors. A number of viral and bacterial infections have been associated with reproductive failure, but there is limited information on the role of chlamydial infections.

In order to investigate the presence and the role of Chlamydiaceae in water buffalo a retrospective study was performed in a herd with a history of reproductive failure. During an 11-month period, the pregnant heifers suffered an abortion rate of 36.8% between the 3rd and 7th month of pregnancy. Antibodies to Chlamydiaceae were detected in 57% of the aborted cows, and in 0% of the overtly healthy cows used as control. By a nested-PCR assay, three of 14 vaginal swabs from aborted animals tested positive for Chlamydophila agents and, additionally, three out of seven aborted fetuses tested positive for Chlamydophila spp., with two being co-infections by Cp. abortus and Cp. pecorum and one being characterised as Cp. abortus. Sequence analysis of the amplicons confirmed the results of the nested-PCR. The presence of anti-Chlamydiaceae antibodies in more than half of the aborting animals (P<0.002) and the detection of Chlamydophila agents in several fetal organs and in the vaginal swabs are consistent with the history of abortions observed in the herd and suggest an abortifacient role by Chlamydophila spp. in water buffalo (B. Bubalis) herds.