Identification and MLVA genotyping of Chlamydia abortus from abortion cases in small ruminants in Croatia

Silvio ŠPIČIĆ*, DVM, PhD, (Corresponding author, email: spicic@veinst.hr), Scientific Advisor, Sanja DUVNJAK, MSc, BSc, PhD, Research Associate, Maja ZDELAR TUK, DVM, PhD, Scientific Advisor, Željko PAVLINEC, BSC, MSc, Irena REIL, DVM, Assistant, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia; Karine LAROUCAU, DVM, PhD, Scientific Advisor, Bacterial Zoonoses Unit, French Agency for Food, Environmental & Occupational Health Safety (ANSES), Maisons-Alfort, France; Lejla VELIĆ, DVM, PhD, Assistant Professor, Toni ETEROVIĆ, DVM, MSc, Scientific Associate, Veterinary Faculty University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Mario ŠEGOTA, DVM, MSc, Ministry of Agriculture Republic of Croatia Veterinary and Public Health Directorate, Zagreb, Croatia; Boris HABRUN, DVM, PhD, Associate Professor, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia; Željko CVETNIĆ, DVM, PhD, Academician, Veterinary Department Križevci, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia Abstract In addition to zoonotic potential, Chlamydia (C.) abortus is a very important bacterium causing serious disease in small ruminants. The main outcome of the disease is abortion in the late stages of pregnancy and the economic impact for farms is significant. During a three-year period (2015–2017), 191 vaginal swabs, 24 placentas, 210 foetal organs and 2 milk samples from small ruminant abortion cases were tested for C. abortus by real-time PCR. Positive samples were detected on eight sheep farms and two goat farms, with 8.4% of total samples testing positive samples. These samples were characterised using the MLVA method, and a single MLVA genotype (genotype [2]) was identified from sheep and goat samples, suggesting highly conserved C. abortus strains among the national flock. This study is the first description of C. abortus as a causative agent of abortion in goats in Croatia. More detailed study is required to recognize the epidemiological relevance of the abortion chlamydiosis. An open register of farms with defined health status should be established for each farm at the national level for better disease(s) control.