Investigation of oxidant and antioxidant parameters in fetal tissue homogenizates positive for Brucella spp.

The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of Brucella in aborted bovine fetuses delivered to Samsun Veterinary Control Institute in 2017-2018 from 6 provinces (Samsun, Sivas, Giresun, Tokat, Sinop, Amasya) and to measure reactive oxygen and nitrogen species and antioxidant levels in the liver of fetuses infected with Brucella. A total of 158 samples from aborted fetuses were analyzed by Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (Real Time PCR). Brucella abortus (B. abortus) DNA was detected in 89 (56.33%) samples. The result was negative for 69 samples (43.67%). Twenty of the samples positive for brucellosis were used as the study group, and 15 of the negative samples were selected as the control group for biochemical analyses. Nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), and reduced glutathione (GSH) activities were analyzed by the spectrophotometric method. In the Brucella-positive group, malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and reduced glutathion (GSH) activity levels amounted to 3.14 ± 0.33 nmol/ml, 2.24 ± 0.22 nmol/ml and 5.95 ± 0.44 µg/dl of wet fetal liver tissue, respectively, whereas the values of these parameter in the control group were 0.97 ± 0.11 nmol/ml, 1.38 ± 0.11 nmol/ml and 7.68 ± 0.25 µg/dl of wet fetal liver tissue, respectively. MDA and NO levels were higher, and reduced GSH levels were lower in Brucella-positive fetus liver tissue compared to control. In conclusion, despite all vaccination efforts, the prevalence of Brucella infection in bovines in the Central Black Sea Region remains high. It was determined that free radical levels and antioxidant activity in Brucella-positive aborted fetus liver were different from those in the control samples.