Abstract
Chlamydophila abortus is a globally prevalent, highly infectious zoonotic microorganism responsible for a number of reproductive disorders in ruminants, characterised by spontaneous abortion and foetal loss in sheep, goats and cattle in many countries. It has the potential to infect entire flocks in a breeding system; and possibly spread throughout an entire local geographical region, due to the latent nature of its infectious cycle. Even though there has been no record of the seroprevalence of this organism in South Africa, it has drawn much attention in this country in the last few decades, due to its negative impact on the economy and agricultural industry. First-generation vaccines are commercially available for the prevention and control of this infectious microorganism; and although they provide adequate protection, the difficulty encountered during bulk chlamydial growth persists as a hindrance to the production process. ..
M.Sc. (Biochemistry)