فهرست نشریات علمی دسترسی آزاد ایران

Brucellosis is an important zoonosis affecting public health and livestock, mainly caused by the genus Brucella. This study aimed to isolate and identify Brucella species from rodents associated with livestock farms in Tehran using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A total of 31 rodent samples were collected over three months, 17 from cattle farms and 14 from sheep farms. Genomic DNA was extracted from spleen and liver tissues using the MBST nucleic acid extraction kit, followed by AMOS multiplex PCR targeting the bcsp31 gene (223 bp for the Brucella genus) and species-specific primers (731 bp for B. melitensis and 498 bp for B. abortus). PCR analysis showed a positivity rate of 9.7% for Brucella, with all positive samples identified as B. melitensis. The positive samples were mainly from the cities of Islamshahr, Robat Karim and Shahriar. Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in Brucella prevalence between the different housing systems or locations. However, all positive samples were from mature rodents, indicating a significant difference in age distribution (p<0.05). The results highlight the role of rodents as potential reservoirs for brucellosis and emphasize the need for accurate identification of Brucella species in epidemiological studies. This research helps to emphasize the importance of implementing effective control measures to mitigate the risks associated with this zoonosis.