Identification at Biovar Level ofBrucellaIsolates Causing Abortion in Small Ruminants of Iran

Abstract

To determine the most prevalent biovar responsible for brucellosis in sheep and goat populations of Iran, a cross-sectional study was carried out over 2 years in six provinces selected based on geography and disease prevalence. Specimens obtained from referred aborted sheep and goat fetuses were cultured onBrucellaselective media for microbiological isolation. Brucellae were isolated from 265 fetuses and examined for biovar identification using standard microbiological methods. Results showed that 246 isolates (92.8%) wereB. melitensisbiovar 1, 18 isolates (6.8%) wereB. melitensisbiovar 2, and, interestingly, one isolate (0.4%) obtained from Mazandaran province wasB. abortusbiovar 3. In this study,B. melitensisbiovar 3 was isolated in none of the selected provinces, and all isolates from 3 provinces (i.e., Chehar-mahal Bakhtiari, Markazi, and Ilam) were identified only asB. melitensisbiovar 1. In conclusion, we found thatB. melitensisbiovar 1 remains the most prevalent cause of small ruminant brucellosis in various provinces of Iran.