Abstract
Brucellosis is a reemerging zoonotic disease that causes more than half a million infections to humans every year. The disease is common in most developing countries, the human mortality rate is about 2%, and the disease causes severe rheumatism, infertility in males, spontaneous abortion and also results in wastage of resources through prolonged treatment. Brucella organisms are also potential biological weapon which could be cheaper to produce but more devastating than chemical weapons. About 5 mililitres of blood was drawn from 228 subjects using sterile vacutainers and analyzed by using standard tube agglutination tests: (SAT3 160) and ELISA (IgG, IgM) kits specific for Brucella abortus and Brucella melitensis antibodies. Semi structured questionnaire was administered to collect data. In the study, overall sero prevalence was 70 (30.8%). More male participated in the study with a frequency of 24.6% of whom 7.92% falls within the age group of 20 to 30, followed by 31 - 35 years with 5.72% and 3.52% within 36 - 45 years. Least affected were those in the age groups above 46 years (2.20%). Approximately, 21.54% of the subjects had formal education either at Quranic, primary and secondary or tertiary level. Majority acquired Quranic education (9.68%), 7.48% primary and 0.88% had tertiary training. A total of 21 (9.24%) never acquired any form of education. Headache, muscle aches, malaise, chills and fatigue were the most common clinical signs and symptoms experienced by about 30% among the participants. In the distribution of Brucella antibodies, ELISA diagnostic kits showed high sensitivity with the prevalence rate of 18.04% (n = 41) followed by SAT 12.76% (n = 29). The sensitivity and specificity of RDPT kits were 37 % and 69%, with a positive and negative predictive value of 18% and 86% respectively. Unprocessed milk from the market and consumption of unboiled milk were associated with brucellosis. Therefore, patients with brucellosis should be treated to prevent the devastating effect of the disease and the accompanying sequelae, public health education programs should explain modes of transmission and Brucella febrile diagnostic kit should be used at the health facilities.
Highlights
Brucella is gram-negative bacteria that are pathogenic to humans and a variety of livestock animals and wildlife
This study focuses on abattoir workers in three abattoirs and Nomadic herdsmen raising camp in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
A cross-sectional study between January and October 2018 to determine the sero-prevalence of Brucella abortus and Brucella melitensis antibodies in sera of abattoir, livestock workers, and nomadic herdsmen, to determine the risk factors associated with sero-positivity against brucella among this class of people in Nigeria
Summary
Brucella is gram-negative bacteria that are pathogenic to humans and a variety of livestock animals and wildlife. The disease has elicited Brucellosis, a zoonotic disease of public health importance; this animal disease has been eradicated in many developed countries [1]. The disease has a great impact on both animal and human health as well as tremendous socio-economic impact in developing countries where people’s income relies largely on livestock breeding and dairy products [3]. Brucellosis is endemic in livestock in most countries of Africa including Nigeria [4] and is an established endemic disease among Nomadic herdsmen and cattle slaughter houses in sub-Saharan Africa and Nigeria [5] [6]
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