Detection of Coxiella burnetii as one of the causes of infectious abortions in small ruminants by PCR in the Hamedan province

Abortion in ruminants occurs for many reasons such that in developed countries despite the relatively complete diagnostic facilities the large number of abortions remains unknown. Most frequently isolated agents include: Brucella spp., Campylobacter spp., Leptospira spp., Listeria spp., Salmonella spp., Chlamydophila spp., Mycoplasma spp. and a variety of viruses and mycotic agents. Coxiella burnetii also cause abortion in ruminants, which is less considered in Iran. To detect the role of Coxiella burnetii in small ruminant's abortion in Hamedan province, 31 samples from liver and kidney and also abomasum contents of aborted fetuses of sheep and goats are taken and test with PCR method. The results of whole samples were negative. Since comprehensive epidemiological study has not been conducted in Hamadan and PCR test was done only on fetus samples referring to the central veterinary laboratories and also the limited number of samples so negative results in this study cannot be the reason for the lack of C. burnetii in the Hamedan province.