Search

Infectious diseases and aetiological agents related to female reproductive systems were extensively covered compared to its male counterpart. There needs a proper study to bridge this gap, where microflora and infectious agents of both male and female reproductive are mutually intelligible. With this study, we aimed to evaluate the microbial contamination of the preputial cavity and also screened for abortion-causing agents which are zoonotic as well. In goats, such types of abortions are caused by Brucella melitensis, Chlamydophila, Campylobacter and Coxiella etc. One of the major sources of contamination of semen is the preputial cavity, which is exposed to the external environment leading to spread of infection into the female via semen straws or by natural service. In the current study, good quality bucks (n = 32, Barbari = 12, Jamunapari = 10, Jakhrana = 10) which were routinely used for semen collection were screened for their preputial swabs, for the presence of the above pathogens. For detection of Brucella melitensis, OMP31 based TaqMan® probe real-time PCR assay was used, and for Chlamydia, 16srRNA gene based SYBR® green real-time PCR assay was employed for detection of Chlamydophila abortus. While for Campylobacter spp. and Coxiella burnetii, 16srRNA gene based conventional PCR and Trans-PCR were used, respectively. In the current study, of the screened preputial swabs, none of them showed positive for Brucella and Coxiella, but of the screened 32 samples 17 showed positive for Chlamydia (53.13%) and two (6.25%) showed positive for Campylobacter spp. The current study emphasizes on the farms and laboratories which were regularly involved in screening of brucellosis also often overlook the other potential non-brucella pathogens, causing abortions eventually incurring severe economic losses to the goat keepers.

Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis (MAP) is causative agent of Johne's disease (JD) in domestic animals and has broad host range. JD infected animals shed viable MAP in their milk, feces, blood, and tissues which get transmitted to human beings directly or indirectly by consumption of animal products, through contact, animal handling and through contaminated environment, aerosols. In this current study, we developed hydrolysis probe based TaqMan® real-time PCR assay where samples were investigated by targeting IS900 mRNA and ModD gene to differentiate live MAP shedders from inactive/dead MAP bacilli shedding animals. The IS900 mRNA and ModD gene primers were designed using discontiguous unique conserved sequences of IS900 more towards the 3' end and fibronectin attachment protein (FAP) genes, respectively. Two different reporter dyes Cy5 and TexasRed, with compatible quenchers BHQ-1 and BHQ-2, respectively, were used for probe designing of IS900 and ModD genes. Triplex PCR assay was developed by using serially diluted positive MAP culture in log

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most prevalent pathogens, and a causative agent of a variety of infections in humans and animals. A total of 48 semen samples were collected from healthy bucks of different breeds to investigate the prevalence of S. aureus . Antimicrobial resistance and virulence of the Staphylococcus isolates were determined to assess the adverse effects of them on buck fertility. The bacterial isolates were tentatively confirmed as Staphylococcus spp. based on the Gram’s staining, growth on Mannitol salt agar and catalase test. Overall, 75% (n = 36) of the samples were positive for Staphylococcus spp. from the total 48 buck semen ejaculates from different breeds. Out of 36 staphylococcal isolates, 23 (47.92%) were coagulase negative (CoNS) and 13 (27.08%) were coagulase positive Staphylococcus (CoPS) based on the slide coagulase test. In the current study, on the basis of molecular characterization, we identified S. aureus , S. chromogenes, S. haemolyticus, S. sciuri, S. simulans and S. epidermidis amongst the staphylococcal isolates in the buck semen. This study revealed a high prevalence of Staphylococcus species in semen of the healthy bucks. The isolates exhibited varying degrees of multidrug resistance genotypically as well as phenotypically. The presence of antibiotic resistance and virulence genes may pose a potential threat to reproductive health of animals, highlighting the need for vigilant monitoring of these isolates at the time of semen cryopreservation.

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most prevalent pathogens, and a causative agent of a variety of infections in humans and animals. Most studies concentrated on characterization of staphylococcus isolates and its antimicrobial resistance from various illness of veterinary importance, but there is no specific study that is available on isolates from reproductive tract of small ruminants and especially its semen. Hence, in the current study, a total of 48 semen samples were collected from healthy bucks of different breeds to investigate the occurrence of S. aureus. Antimicrobial resistance and virulence of the Staphylococcus isolates were determined to assess the adverse effects of them on buck fertility. The bacterial isolates were tentatively confirmed as Staphylococcus spp. based on the Gram's staining, growth on Mannitol salt agar and catalase test. Overall, 75% (n = 36) of the samples were positive for Staphylococcus spp. from the total 48 buck semen ejaculates from different breeds and among them 23 (63.89%) were coagulase-negative (CoNS) and 13 (36.11%) were coagulase-positive Staphylococcus (CoPS) strains. The species identified by molecular characterization are S. aureus, S. chromogenes, S. haemolyticus, S. sciuri, S. simulans, and S. epidermidis from buck semen. Further, these isolates exhibited varying degrees of multidrug resistance genotypically as well as phenotypically. The presence of antibiotic resistance and virulence genes may pose a potential threat to reproductive health of animals, the animal handlers and livestock keepers, while simultaneously highlighting the need for vigilant monitoring of these isolates at the time of semen cryopreservation.

The purpose of the study was to determine seropositivity for brucellosis among sheep and goats having history of abortion and various reproductive disorders. A total of 339 serum samples (136 sheep and 203 goats) were tested for Brucella antibody by Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT), Serum Tube Agglutination Test (STAT) and Sandwich Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (s-ELlSA). The prevalence of brucellosis by RBPT, STAT and s-ELISA was4.41%, 5.88% and 8.08% in sheep and 17.24 %, 8.37% and 12.81% in goats, respectively. Among the three serological tests employed for detection of Brucella antibodies, s-ELISA yielded maximum (13.57%) positive results followed by STAT (10.03%) and RBPT (6.78%). Thus s-ELISA is proved to be the best for screening of animals for brucellosis.

Johne’s disease is major infectious disease of domestic livestock in India. Despite low per animal productivity, the country is yet to initiate plan for the survey and control of disease at National scale. A total of 81 clinical samples from Mandya breed of sheep were collected from an organised farm (Livestock Research and Information Centre, Nagmangala) and farmer’s flocks suspected for Johne’s disease on the basis of clinical symptoms (weakness, emaciation, diarrhea and alopecia). Only 10.0% samples from two farms were screened for bio-load of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) using multiple tests (microscopy, indigenous ELISA, IS900 PCR and culture). Results showed that 100.0% samples were positive for MAP infection both in microscopy and “Indigenous ELISA”. IS1311 PCR-REA bio-typed 60.0% (feces) and 100.0% (blood and tissue) isolates as “Indian Bison Type”. Typing investigated for the first time that biotype was of Indian origin and present in sheep flocks of South India having wide geographical distribution and broad host range. Study reported high bio-load of MAP in Mandya breed of sheep in Nagamangala, Mandya district and Bilagi taluk of Bagalkot district in South India. Being Johne’s disease a spectral disease, multiple tests were useful for the screening of MAP infection in sheep farms. Study emphasised the need for initiation of short and long term control programs to reduce production losses and sharing of MAP strains by other domestic livestock species and prevent contamination of human food chain and reduce risk to human population.