Characterization of Brucella organisms isolated from camels and some associated risk factors of brucellosis in Aswan governorate, Egypt

In this study, isolation, identification and molecular characterization of Brucella isolates detected from camels from different localities in Aswan governorate were performed. Ten Brucella isolates were recovered in this study, these included two from lymph nodes, three from udder tissues, one from testicular tissues, two from hygromas and two from milk secretions of the udder of slaughtered camels. Typing of these isolates revealed six Brucella abortus isolates and four Brucella melitensis. Brucella abortus was recovered from three udder tissues, one testicular tissue and two hygromas while Brucella melitensis was detected from two lymph nodes and two milk samples collected from the udder of slaughtered she camels. In the current study, the real-time PCR assured the identification of Brucella DNAs in the 10 bacteriologically identified Brucella isolates as six B. abortus and four B. melitensis. PCR results in this research confirmed the results of bacteriological examinations and cleared the power of PCR testing at detection and characterization of Brucellae. Therefore, it can be applied to complement the results gained from phenotypic tests. Different risk factors of Brucella infection in camels were investigated and discussed.