Mazwi, Koketso DesireeKolo, Francis BabamanJaja, Ishmael FestusByaruhanga, CharlesHassim, AyeshaVan Heerden, Henriette2024-02-202024-02-202024-01Mazwi, K.D.; Kolo, F.B.; Jaja, I.F.; Byaruhanga, C.; Hassim, A.; van Heerden, H. Polyphasic Characterization of Brucella spp. in Livestock Slaughtered from Abattoirs in Eastern Cape, South Africa. Microorganisms 2024, 12, 223. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12010223.2076-2607 (online)10.3390/microorganisms12010223http://hdl.handle.net/2263/94746SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL : TABLE S1: Molecular and serological identification of Brucella spp. in livestock.; FIGURE S1: Gel electrophoresis of Bruce-Ladder PCR amplification to differentiate the field strains from vaccine strains. Lanes 1–5 and 10 show amplification of B. abortus, lanes 6–8 show amplification of B. melitensis, lane 9 show Rev 1 positive and lane 11 and 12 show negative controls.DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT : All the relevant data and supplementary information are contained within the paper.In livestock, brucellosis is mainly an asymptomatic disease except when abortion occurs; therefore, two serological tests are used for diagnosis as no single test is suitable. Abattoir samples enable a combination of culture, molecular, and serological tests to detect brucellosis. This study assessed Brucella-specific PCR (ITS-PCR) to detect brucellosis and to conduct a molecular characterization of Brucella spp. isolated from PCR-positive livestock (n = 565) slaughtered at abattoirs and the appropriate sample tissue(s). ITS-PCR detected Brucella DNA in 33.6% of cattle, 14.5% of sheep, and 4.7% of pig tissues. Impure Brucella cultures from PCR-positive tissues were 43.6% (44/94) of cattle, 51.7% (15/29) of sheep, and 50% (2/4) of pigs with predominantly B. abortus identification with AMOS-PCR and low isolation of mixed B. abortus and B. melitensis in all species. In cattle, 33% of isolates were from lymph nodes, while in sheep 38.0% were from the liver and kidney and only from tonsils in pigs (2/4). Brucella infections identified with AMOS-PCR were present in seropositive and mainly seronegative (75.6–100%) livestock with the potential to cause brucellosis during pregnancy or breeding. This study demonstrated the value of the polyphasic approach, especially with chronic infections and the potential risk of these asymptomatic animals.en© 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license.BrucellosisLivestockTissue samplesCulture positiveAMOS-PCRPolymerase chain reaction (PCR)Brucella abortusBrucella melitensisEastern Cape Province (ECP)South Africa (SA)SDG-02: Zero hungerArticle