Epidemiological Survey for Toxoplasma gondii, Chlamydia psittaci var. ovis, Mycobacterium paratuberculosis, Coxiella burnetii, Brucella spp., Leptospirosis, and Orf Virus among Sheep from Northern Districts of Japan

Abstract

A serological survey was carried out in the northern prefectures of Hokkaido, Iwate and Aomori in Japan, for the presence of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii, Chlamydia psittaci var. ovis, Mycobacterium paratuberculosis, Coxiella burnetii, Brucella spp., Leptospirosis, and orf virus (ORFV). Out of 267 samples tested, highest overall prevalence (28.78%) was found for T. gondii. The 12.59% of tested sheep was positive for C. psittaci var. ovis. A total of 8.67% were found to be seropositive to the C. burnetii. Levels of these infections were found in all the three prefectures. Seroconversion to ORFV was detected in Hokkaido and Iwate prefectures (2.57%). Animals were positive only for L. ballum (1.50%), in Hokkaido and Aomori prefectures. No animals reacted to Brucella spp. and M. paratuberculosis.