Evaluation of the effectiveness of experimental vaccination of large and small cattle against brucellosis in the Republic of Armenia

Abstract

Abstract Epidemiological research data has shown that after vaccination, in comparison with the previous years, in the vulnerable communities of Sisian and Goris region the number of positively reacted large cattle was sharply reduced and new vulnerable communities were not registered. If in 2007–2009 in Sisian region an average of 25–254 heads of cattle annually infected with brucellosis in vulnerable communities, only two years after vaccination, the number of vulnerable communities reduced to 11, and the number of infected cattle reduced to 88 heads. During the same period, in average 135 heads of cattle infected with brucellosis were recorded in 7 vulnerable communities of Goris region, and after two years from vaccination the number of heads of infected cattle reduced to 78. Presented factual data have proved the necessity of inclusion of vaccination in the list of preventive meausures against brucellosis in large cattle. Research has shown that in May and June 2012, 1.5 years later after vaccination, blood samples of 80 heads of small cattle from four communities, which were examined by RBT and agglutination reaction, had a negative reaction and were recognized as healthy. Besides, in Goris and Sisian vulnerable communities, 1.5–2 years later after the vaccination the female lambs vaccinated at 3–8 months age, had normal bear and no cases of miscarriage were recorded. Miscarriage cases were not recorded also among vaccinated mother sheep, among small cattle of other safe and vulnerable communities.