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Molecular detection of <i>Brucella melitensis</i> in sheep and goat milk in Iran


Amir Shakerian
Permal Deo
Ebrahim Rahimi
Ali-Reza Shahjavan
Faham Khamesipour

Abstract

Purpose: To detect Brucella melitensis in the milk of reared sheep and goats from Isfahan and Shahrekord regions, Iran.

Methods: A total of 225 milk samples (sheep = 125; goat = 100) were collected from Isfahan and Shahrekord regions, Central Iran. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect the presence of B. melitensis in the milk following standard procedures.

Results: From 225 milk samples, 20 (8.9 %) were positive for B. melitensis. Out of 125 sheep milk, 12 (9.6 %) had B. melitensis, and of these, 8 (66.6 %) were milk collected from Shahrekord and 4 (33.3 %) from Isfahan region. On the other hand, out of 100 goat milk samples, 18 (18 %) were positive for B. melitensis, out of which 10 (55.5 %) were from Shahrekord and 8 (44.4 %) from Isfahan.

Conclusion: The findings show that B. melitensis is present in a significant proportion of caprine and ovine milk in a section of Iran.

Keywords: Brucella melitensis, Milk, Polymerase chain reaction, Sheep, Goat


Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 1596-9827
print ISSN: 1596-5996