الفهرس 
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Abstract
The chlamydiae are a diverse group of obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacteria that are known to infect a wide variety of host species. The present study was conducted to detect the incidence of Chlamydia abortus and Chlamydia pecorum among cattle, sheep and goats. It was carried out on two groups of animals: the first one consists of apparently healthy cattle (n=35), sheep (n=8) and goats (n=23). The second one consists of diseased cattle (n=14), sheep (n=21) and goats (n=18) with different clinical findings such as: respiratory disorders, keratoconjunctivitis, vaginitis, abortion and diarrhea and the source of specimens were fecal (n=40), nasal (n=30), ocular (n=3) and vaginal samples (n=18). Moreover samples from internal organs (n=10) and sera (n=65) were also collected. Criteria of samples examination for detection of Chlamydia abortus and Chlamydia pecorum were as follow: CFT was used for determination of Chlamydia abortus and Chlamydia pecorum antibodies and antigen, Indirect Immunofluorescence test was used to confirm the presence of inclusion bodies of Chlamydia spp., Chlamydia abortus and Chlamydia pecorum were isolated by inoculation in 7-day old ECE via yolk sac route, TEM was used to confirm the presence of inclusion bodies of Chlamydia abortus and Chlamydia pecorum in infected yolk sac and The collected internal organs from animals were stained by Giemsa stain for detection of inclusion bodies of Chlamydia abortus and Chlamydia pecorum. Results of CFT reveal that serum samples of cattle, sheep and goats were positive for Chlamydia spp. antibodies in a rate of 85%, fecal samples in cattle, sheep and goats showed positive results for Chlamydia spp. antigen in a rate of 77.5%, while vaginal swabs in sheep and goats showed positive results for Chlamydia spp. antigen in a rate of 70%, whereas nasal swabs in cattle and sheep showed positive results for Chlamydia spp. antigen in a rate of 77% and all ocular swabs in sheep showed positive results for Chlamydia spp. antigen. Results were confirmed by Indirect Immunofluorescence Test revealed that 54% of cattle, sheep and goats specimens were positive. Chlamydia was isolated in Embryonated Chicken Eggs (ECE) and the results revealed that the percentage of Chlamydia abortus and Chlamydia pecorum in cattle 68.5%, 31.5%, respectively, in sheep 66%, 34%, respectively and in goat 55%, 45%, respectively. TEM assured the presence of inclusion bodies of Chlamydia abortus and Chlamydia pecorum in infected yolk sac. Results of staining of collected internal organs revealed that 60% of cattle and goats specimens were positive for the presence of inclusion bodies of Chlamydia spp. Finally the results suggested that the farm animals (cattle, sheep and goat) may be reservoir for Chlamydia abortus and Chlamydia pecorum and the disease should be considered as it affects animal health with zoonotic impact and causes severe economic loses.