Sero-prevalence and risk factors for Brucella melitensis infection in goats slaughtered in Abuja metropolis, Nigeria

Abstract

Brucellosis is a disease that causes significant reproductive failure in ruminants and has been reported to be a disease of major zoonotic importance. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors for Brucella melitensis infection in goats slaughtered in the Abattoir section of the Livestock Market Gwagwalada Area Council, Anagada, Abuja Nigeria. A total of 240 blood samples were collected in plain tubes without anti-coagulant at point of slaughter for the harvesting of serum samples. Serum Agglutination Test with EDTA (SAT-EDTA) and Lateral Flow Assay (LFA) were used to test for exposure to Brucella infection. Chi square was used to test for association between catergorical variables as with level of significance set at 0.05. Overall seroprevalence rates using SAT-EDTA and LFA were 7.11% and 6.67% respectively. Based on risk factors, seroprevalence rate was higher in does (6.62% vs 6.68%), goats ≤ 1 year of age (7.45% vs 7.45%) and the Sahel breed of goats (9.80% vs 7.69%) by SAT-EDTA and LFA respectively. There was no significant difference between all variables p > 0.05. Highest prevalence rates were obtained in does, goats ≤ 1 year and the Sahel breed of goats. As a pathogen of public health significance to in-contact abattoir workers, it is imperative that these workers be educated on the nature of the disease and on how to minimize its risk of transmission via contacted with infected animals and their products.