Brucellosis in Borena Cattle: - Seroprevalence and Awareness of the Pastoral Community in Yabello Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was cross-sectional and the objectives of the study were: estimation of prevalence of bovine brucellosis, assessment of risk factors and assessment of knowledge of pastoralist about the disease and its risk factors in Borana cattle at Dida Tuyura ranch and its surrounding. The study animals were selected by multi-stage sampling. Blood was collected from selected animals and serum was extracted. The Sera samples were screened using the rose Bengal plate (RBPT) test and those which tested positive were further tested using Complement fixation test (CFT) for confirmation. Sixteen (16) cattle out of 661 (2.4%; 95 5 CI: 1.39, 3.9) tested using RBPT were found to be positive. However, only 5 animals were found positive with CFT in animal sampled from Dida Tuyura Ranch yielding a prevalence of 1.47% (95% CI: 0.48, 3.41). from Six animals which gave positive reaction to RBPT from pastoralists’ herd in the vicinity of the ranch only two gave positive reaction to CFT yielding a prevalence of 0.62% (95% CI: 0.162, 4.73). Taken together the seroprevalence of bovine brucellosis as revealed by CFT 1.1% (95% CI: 0.43, 2.17). Univariable logistic regression analysis showed that previous history of abortion and retained fetal membranes were significantly associated with seropositivity to brucellosis (P<0.05) whereas sex, age, parity, body condition and PAs were not associated with infection with Brucella (P>0.05). In the multivariable analysis, only abortion (OR=13.46, p<0.05)) remained to be independently associated with brucellosis seropositivity whereas other not. The results of questionnaire survey revealed that the majority of the pastoralists or cattle attendants do not have sufficient knowledge about brucellosis and are at risk of acquiring the infection. Therefore, educating the pastoralists about the disease through extension service on the handling of aborted fetuses and assistance of delivery is important.