Abstract
Bovine brucellosis affects food safety, food security and human health in rural communities in the North West Province, South Africa. The World Organisation for Animal Health suggests routine sero-surveillance and vaccination of cattle for control and to prevent zoonotic transmission. Although sero-surveillance and subsidised vaccination have been in place for decades, data from Bojanala have not previously been analysed. The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyse historical data on routine sero-surveillance of bovine brucellosis and state subsidised vaccination, in communal, commercial and dairy cattle in the study area. This was a descriptive, cross-sectional retrospective analysis of records from all adult cows bled by the state veterinary services during routine sero-surveillance for bovine brucellosis, in the Bojanala Region, North West Province, between 2009 and 2013. Fewer communal (N = 11 815) and dairy (N = 6696), than commercial beef (N = 28 251) cows, were tested. Overall herd prevalence (33.33%), differed significantly from individual prevalence (3.18%) in all groups. Communal herds had both the highest herd prevalence (38.8%) and the highest individual prevalence (5.2%). Both herd and individual sero-prevalence were lowest in dairy cattle, possibly because registered dairy herds are routinely tested. Over the 5-year study period, only 24 086 (7.15%) of the 342 500 cows eligible for free vaccination, were vaccinated. The annual number of cattle tested was highly variable. Dairy cattle that were regularly tested had a significantly lower herd and individual prevalence. Herd prevalence would be useful for spatial mapping, whilst individual prevalence could better reflect the risk of zoonotic transmission.
Highlights
Bovine brucellosis is an important zoonotic bacterial disease caused by Brucella abortus (Bamaiyi 2016)
[H]uman brucellosis is known as brucella fever, abortus fever and undulant fever
The disease in cattle is known as contagious abortion or CA. (n.p.). It has a wide host range, but infections in domestic cattle have a serious impact on food security, food safety and rural economics in Africa as well as human health (Franc et al 2018; Godfroid et al 2011; Makita et al 2011)
Summary
Bovine brucellosis is an important zoonotic bacterial disease caused by Brucella abortus (Bamaiyi 2016). Infections are characterised by fever, malaise, urogenital symptoms, anorexia, insomnia, weight loss, headache and joint pains. It is confused with malaria and influenza (Bamaiyi 2016; Doganay & Aygen 2003). In Africa, bovine brucellosis can have serious economic impacts, resulting from loss of work or income due to illness and disability (Bwala et al 2015). This impact on human health can be quantified using the disability-adjusted life year, or DALY (Marcotty et al 2009)
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