Hygienic Studies on Microbial Causes of Abortion in Sheep

A total of 250 samples of aborted foeti, vaginal discharge and placenta were collected from aborted ewes from Behera Governorate for Microbiological examination. Swabs from stomach and intestinal contents of aborted foeti as well as liver, spleen, and lungs were collected. The recorded results showed that the prevalence of infectious diseases causing abortion in examined aborted ewes where the highest prevalence was due to brucellosis followed by Salmonellosis then listeriosis. On contrary, all serum samples were found to be negative for presence of RVF antibodies. The bacteriological examination of aborted foeti, vaginal discharge and Placenta of aborted sheep revealed the isolation of Listeria spp. and Salmonella spp. with the incidences of 4.8% and 5.8%, respectively. While serological examination of serum samples revealed that the incidence of brucellosis and Rift Valley fever was 12.4 and 0.0 %, respectively. Polymerase chain reaction assay (PCR) was a valuable tool for direct and rapid diagnosis of Brucella melitensis in blood collected from aborted ewes.