Molecular Typing of Brucella abortus Strains Isolated from Cattle in Different Districts of Pakistan Based on Bruce-Ladder-PCR and MLVA-16 Assays

Bovine brucellosis is endemic in Pakistan. But little is known about the prevalent Brucella species and biovars. We have performed molecular typing of 17 Brucella isolates from cattle by Bruce-Ladder-PCR and Multiple-Locus Variable number tandem repeat Analysis (MLVA)-16 genotyping. These Brucella isolates were recovered from aborted fetuses, milk samples and vaginal swabs from recently aborted cattle in different districts in Pakistan. All isolates were confirmed by conventional culture methods and PCR. All strains had identical MLVA-16 profiles. Results of this study concluded that the same genotype of B. abortus is circulating in different districts of Pakistan which considered as the main risk of spread of this infection in Pakistan. This data will be helpful to develop prevention and control strategies for human and bovine brucellosis in Pakistan.