First Report of Chlamydia Seroprevalence and Risk Factors in Domestic Black-Boned Sheep and Goats in China

The Gram-negative bacteria of the genusChlamydiacause a wide range of diseases in humans and animals. The seroprevalence ofChlamydiain domestic black-boned sheep and goats in China is unknown. In this survey, a total of 481 serum samples were collected randomly from domestic black-boned sheep and goats from three counties in Yunnan province, southwest China, from July to August 2017. The sera were examined by an indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA). Antibodies toChlamydiawere detected in 100/481 [20.79%, 95% confidence interval (CI), 17.16-24.42] serum samples (IHA titer >= 1:64). TheChlamydiaseroprevalence ranged from 12.21% (95% CI, 7.81-16.61) to 30.89% (95% CI, 22.72-39.06) across different regions in Yunnan province, and the differences were statistically significant (P< 0.01). The seroprevalence in male domestic black-boned sheep and goats (28.64%; 95% CI, 22.36-34.92) was significantly higher than that in the females (15.25%; 95% CI, 11.05-19.45) (P< 0.01). However, there was no statistically significant difference inChlamydiaseroprevalence in domestic black-boned sheep and goats between ages and species (P> 0.05). To our knowledge, this is the first report ofChlamydiaseroprevalence in domestic black-boned sheep and goats in Yunnan Province, southwest China. These data provide baseline information for future implementation of measures to controlChlamydiainfection in these animals.