Brucella abortus and Brucella melitensis in Iranian Bovine and Buffalo Semen Samples: The First Clinical Trial on Seasonal, Senile and Geographical Distribution Using Culture, Conventional and Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction Assays

Conventional and real-time PCR assays were developed for detection and identification of Brucella species in bovine and buffalo semen samples. Totally, 91 bovine and buffalo semen samples were collected from 4 major provinces of Iran in various seasons. The animals which their semen samples were collected for this study had less than 1 year old, 1-2 years old, 2-3 years old and more than 3 years old. Samples were cultured and DNA was extracted and novel primers have been designed using the IS711 target of Brucella species for conventional PCR. Positive results of PCR have been studied for presences of Brucella abortus and Brucella melitensis. Totally, 21.56% and 14.28% of bovine and buffalo semen samples, respectively, were positive for Brucella species. Khozestan had the highest while Sistan Va Balochestan had the lowest incidences of Brucella species in studied regions. Samples which were collected in spring season had the highest rate of infection. Also, samples which were collected from less than 1 year old bovine and buffalo semen samples had the highest incidence of Brucella species. Totally, 25 (24.50%) and 4 (3.92%) bovine semen samples and 14 (15.38%) and 1 (1.09%) buffalo semen samples were positive for Brucella abortus and Brucella melitensis.