BACTERIOLOGICAL AND SEROLOGICAL EVIDENCE OF CAMPYLOBACTER IN SHEEP

A total of 1588 samples including (1130 serum samples, 26 aborted foeti, 12 faetal membranes, 90 vaginal discharges from aborted ewes, 215 gall bladder from slaughterhouses and 115 fecal swabs) was collected from different breed of sheep in Egyptian farms suffered from reproductive disorders as abortion and lor infertility. Out of these samples 450 were inoculated into thiol media for 24-72 hours at 37°C for detection of Campylobacter organisms. The specimens of ewe serum samples and vaginal swabs were subjected to serological and immunological tests by using tube agglutination test and ELISA. In this study, Campylobacters were isolated in 57 (12.45% from 458 samples represented as 32 (6.99%) C.f.ss. fetus and 25 (5.46% C. jejuni. The highest isolation rate of Campylobacters were presented in aborted foeti (34.62%) then fecal swabs (17.39%). Out of 1130 serum samples and 90 vaginal discharge samples examined by tube agglutination test, and ELISA: Tube agglutination test results were positive in 38 (3.36%) for serum samples and 13 (14.14%) in vaginal discharges with C.f.ss. fetus antigen and positive in 36 (3.19%) of serum and 4 (4.44%) in vaginal discharge with C. jejuni antigen. In comparing to results of ELISA test which they were positive for 108 (9.55%) in serum and 19 (21.11%) in vaginal discharges with ss. fetus antigen and positive in 92 (8.14%) of serum and 7 (7.77%) in vaginal discharges with C. jejuni respectively. The cross reactions between C. f.ss. fetus and C. jejuni were demonstrated by serological tests which were 7 (9.89% by tube agglutination test > 1/160 titer but failed to give homologus titer. The cross reactivity minimized by ELISA 2(0.88%) at 1/100 but no correlation occured at the higher dilution. This work is monitoring the effectiveness of ELISA as a; simple, more sensitive and rapid technique for early diagnosis of Campylobacters in sheep.