Abstract
IntroductionIn Nigeria, there is limited information on brucellosis particularly in dogs, despite its public health implications. We undertook a sero-epidemiological survey of brucellosis in dogs to determine the prevalence of the disease and associated risk factors for its occurrence in Nigeria.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted to screen dogs in south-western Nigeria for antibodies to Brucella sp using the rapid slide agglutination test (RSA) and Rose Bengal test (RBT), with positive samples confirmed respectively by serum agglutination test (SAT) and competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA). Data were analyzed with STATA-12.ResultsFrom the 739 dog sera tested, 81 (10.96%) were positive by RSA and 94 (12.72%) by RBT; these were corroborated with SAT (4/81; 4.94%) and cELISA (1/94; 1.06%), respectively. Logistic regression identified location (OR=0.04; 95% CI: 0.02-0.09), breed (OR=1.71; 95% CI: 1.34-2.19), age (OR=0.10; 95% CI: 0.04-0.30) and management system (OR=8.51; 95% CI: 1.07-68.05) as risk factors for Brucella infection by RSA. However, location (OR=10.83; 95% CI: 5.48-21.39) and history of infertility (OR=2.62; 95% CI: 1.41-4.84) were identified as risk factors using RBT.ConclusionGiven the 10.96% to 12.72% seroprevalence of brucellosis recorded in this study, we advocate control of the disease in dogs, and public health education for those at risk of infection. Again, further studies are required to elucidate the role of dogs in the epidemiology of brucellosis in Nigeria considering the conducive human-animal interface and ecological factors responsible for the transmission of the disease.
Highlights
In Nigeria, there is limited information on brucellosis in dogs, despite its public health implications
Out of 739 dogs screened (Lagos State = 385; Ogun State = 354), an overall seroprevalence of 10.96% and 12.72% were recorded by rapid slide agglutination test (RSA) and Rose Bengal test (RBT) out of which, 4.9% (4/81) and 1.1% (1/94) were further supported by serum agglutination test (SAT) and competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA), respectively
The importance of this study is connected with the backdrop of increased dog ownership and very little knowledge about risk factors associated with brucellosis in dogs and its related public health implications in Nigeria
Summary
In Nigeria, there is limited information on brucellosis in dogs, despite its public health implications. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to screen dogs in south-western Nigeria for antibodies to Brucella sp using the rapid slide agglutination test (RSA) and Rose Bengal test (RBT), with positive samples confirmed respectively by serum agglutination test (SAT) and competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA). Conclusion: Given the 10.96% to 12.72% seroprevalence of brucellosis recorded in this study, we advocate control of the disease in dogs, and public health education for those at risk of infection. Further studies are required to elucidate the role of dogs in the epidemiology of brucellosis in Nigeria considering the conducive human-animal interface and ecological factors responsible for the transmission of the disease. Transmission of Brucella infection in dogs occurs via ingestion of contaminated materials or venereal routes [12]. False positive results may occur due to cross reacting antibodies from other Gram-negative organisms with RBT and RSA [5, 16,17,18]
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