Abstract
Aim: brucellosis in dairy herds of peri-urban areas. Five randomly selected peri-uban areas of six cities of Gujarat were included in the present study. Five randomly selected dairy herds under intensive system of production from each selected peri-urban area were included for further investigation. In total, 199 bulk and 582 individual milk samples were screened by milk-ELISA. Forty three different risk factors were identified and grouped into four major categories as general characteristics of farms, introduction of infection to farms, management systems of farms and exposure of disease. Further, their distribution and association with prevalence of bovine brucellosis was studied. The overall herd and animal prevalence in peri-urban areas was 33.70 and 11.90%, respectively. Out of 11 risk factors on general characteristics of dairy farms, only five (herd size, type of animals, type of breed, age of owner and knowledge gained by owners) showed significant (p<0.05) association with occurrence of bovine brucellosis. None of risk factors on introduction of infection to farms (n=6) and management systems of farms (n=11) was found significantly associated with occurrence of brucellosis. Among risk factors on exposure of disease (n=15), history of abortion, retention of placenta, still birth and metritis/endometritis showed significant (p<0.05) association with prevalence of bovine brucellosis. It was concluded that prevalence of bovine brucellosis in dairy herds under intensive system of production in peri-urban areas of Gujarat was comparatively higher than reported overall prevalence of brucellosis. Risk factors like larger herd in close confinement without adequate sheds, type of animal, type of breed and knowledge/awareness of dairyman, unrestricted animal market, replacement without prior testing, reproductive disorders with absence of their testing are the important risk factors under the intensive production system of peri-urban areas of Gujarat, India.
Highlights
The economic wellbeing of dairy farmers depends upon healthy, productive and sound reproductive livestock
Out of 11 risk factors on general characteristics of dairy farms, only five showed significant (p
It was concluded that prevalence of bovine brucellosis in dairy herds under intensive system of production in peri-urban areas of Gujarat was comparatively higher than reported overall prevalence of brucellosis
Summary
The economic wellbeing of dairy farmers depends upon healthy, productive and sound reproductive livestock. Among the various prevalent diseases which considerably affect production and reproduction performance of dairy animals, bovine brucellosis is perhaps the most economically important reproductive disease of the rapidly growing Indian dairy industry. In India, brucellosis was first recognized in 1942 and is endemic throughout the country. The disease has been reported in cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats, pigs, dogs and humans. Brucellosis in India is a very common but often neglected disease [1]. The most significant feature of bovine brucellosis epidemiology is the shedding of large numbers of organisms during 10 days after
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