Serological survey of etiological agents associated with abortion in two Algerian dairy cattle breeding farms

A. Dechicha^{1, 2}, S. Gharbi¹, S. Kebbal¹, G. Chatagnon³, D. Tainturier³, R. Ouzrout² and D. Guetarni¹*

¹Faculté des sciences agro-vétérinaires et biologiques, Université Saad Dahleb, Blida, Algérie.

²Institut des Sciences Vétérinaires, Centre Universitaire d’El Tarf, Algerie.

³Service de Pathologie de la Reproduction, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Nantes, France.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: dguetarni@gmail.com.

Accepted 18 December, 2009.

   Abstract

In Algeria, there is a lack of information about the frequency and etiology of abortions in breeding cattle. In order to improve this situation, we sent a questionnaire to veterinary practitioners, and followed it up with a serological survey on two dairy farms (A and B) that had reported abortions. The serological survey was undertaken to detect the main abortive agents with particular emphasis on Neospora caninum, a parasite presently classified as one of the most important abortive entities globally, but still ignored in our country. The results of the questionnaire showed that when an abortion occurs, no particular measure is taken by practitioners as a diagnosis of the causative agent is very difficult to achieve due to lack of resources. The serological survey showed an average positive rate of 0, 32.8, 37.5 and 50% respectively for brucellosis, neosporosis, candidiasis and bovine rhinotracheitis in both herds and a rate of 3.2, 9.6 and 29% respectively, for chlamydiasis, salmonellosis and Q fever in farm (B) alone. This preliminary study, therefore, indicates for the first time that neosporosis exists in some Algerian farms and may contribute, either individually or in association with other agents to abortions in breeding cattle.

Key words: Abortion, Algeria, breeding cattle, serology, Neospora caninum, livestock diseases.