Chlamydia infection in aborted and clinically healthy ewes in assiut governorate using microscopical examination and elisa

الملخص EN

In 3 sheep breeding flocks in Assiut Governorate suffered from a problem of abortion, after excluding Brucella infection using Rose Bengal and Buffered acidified plate antigen test.

Serum and endocervical swabs from 92 ewes (72 with a history of abortion, 20 clinically healthy ewes) were examined using ELISA for detection of antibodies against chlamydia and Giemsa staining for detection of intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies in endocervical swabs.

Only 16/72 (22.22%) and 1/20 (5%) of previously aborted and clinically healthy ewes respectively were found to be positive using ELISA, infection were more prevalent in ewes over 5–7 years (29.17 %) than in other age groups.

No intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies were detected in endocervical swabs.

It could be concluded that chlamydia infection was prevalent in ewes in Assiut Governorate; ELISA was a rapid screening test for detection of infection in ewes while Giemsa staining was not a reliable method in diagnosis of it.