Abstract
IntroductionBrucellosis is a neglected zoonosis of public health importance. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and risk factors of brucellosis among slaughtered cattle as well as challenges to the protection of abattoir workers in Nigeria.MethodsA slaughterhouse study was conducted in a major abattoir in Ibadan from March to August, 2013. To diagnose brucellosis, serum samples from 1,241 slaughtered cattle were tested using Rose-Bengal test (RBT) and competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA); again, 57 milk samples were tested with milk ring test (MRT) and indirect ELISA (iELISA). Furthermore, a survey on the usage of personal protective equipment (PPE) and challenges to its use by abattoir workers was done. Data were analysed using Stata 12.ResultsSeroprevalence by RBT was 7.8%; 77.3% (75/97) of these were corroborated by cELISA. Prevalence in milk samples by MRT and indirect ELISA were 33.3% and 3.5%, respectively. Sex (OR: 2.5; 95%CI:1.3-4.5) was the factor significantly associated with Brucella seropositivity. None of the abattoir workers used standard protective overalls; while, 99.6% of the meat handlers and 84.1% of the butchers worked barefoot. Most of the workers (75.7%) wore no protective gloves. The respondents agreed that provision of free PPE and sanctions against non-users would encourage its use.ConclusionOur findings indicate moderate prevalence (7.8%) of bovine brucellosis with sex of cattle being a risk factor. A notable barrier to better protection of abattoir workers against brucellosis is perceived inconvenience arising from use of gloves. Therefore, preventive and control measures against brucellosis must include education and use of PPE among abattoir workers.
Highlights
Brucellosis is a neglected zoonosis of public health importance
Since the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) recommends at least two serological tests [11], the competitive ELISA (c-ELISA) and indirect ELISA which have proved useful in several previous studies, were used as confirmatory tests to the Rose-Bengal test (RBT) and the milk ring test (MRT) [12,13,14,15]
Lack of awareness about the zoonotic implications of brucellosis is a key finding among abattoir workers in this study
Summary
This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and risk factors of brucellosis among slaughtered cattle as well as challenges to the protection of abattoir workers in Nigeria. Preventive and control measures against brucellosis must include education and use of PPE among abattoir workers. Infections in bulls cause orchitis, epididymitis, seminal vesiculitis and hygroma [2] In cows, it results in abortions, stillbirth, birth of weak calves and reduced milk production. Since the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) recommends at least two serological tests [11], the competitive ELISA (c-ELISA) and indirect ELISA (iELISA) which have proved useful in several previous studies, were used as confirmatory tests to the RBT and the milk ring test (MRT) [12,13,14,15]. Brucellosis is considered a neglected zoonosis in most African countries including Nigeria, due to limited efforts directed at its control [17,18] and precisely because of the category of people affected ( the poorly educated)
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