Brucella Melitensis Isolated From Aborted Cow And Sheep Fetuses In Northwest Of China

This study aimed to investigate the causes of abortion in cows that were mixed fed with sheep and/or goats, and the presence of B. melitensis infection in cows. PCR of 34 (28%) specimens out of 120 samples were identified as B. melitensis. The traditional bacteriological tests identified all of the isolates from sheep/cow aborted fetuses and milk as B. melitensis biovar 3. This is the first study to demonstrate B. melitensis as the main etiological agent for cows mixed fed with sheep and/or goats in XUAR, northwest of China. This may cause severe infection in the local population, and pose a potential public health risk, especially when eating or drinking the products of contaminated milk.