Serological and Molecular Detection of Bovine Brucellosis at Institutional Livestock Farms in Punjab, Pakistan.

Tariq Jamil,Iahtasham Khan,Stefan Schwarz,Sami Ullah,Khushal Khan Kasi,Muhammad Haleem Tayyab,Falk Melzer,Mashkoor Mohsin,Muhammad Hammad Hussain,Asim Shahzad,Muhammad Saqib,Usman Tahir,Heinrich Neubauer,Muhammad Khalid Mansoor,Imaad Rashid

doi:10.3390/ijerph17041412

Abstract

Bovine brucellosis remains a persistent infection in ruminants in Pakistan. A total of 828 (409 buffaloes and 419 cattle) sera were collected from 11 institutional-owned livestock farms in Punjab, Pakistan. The samples were tested by rose bengal plate agglutination test (RBPT) and indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA). The seroprevalence along with 95% confidence interval (CI) was determined. Univariable and multivariable analysis of the epidemiological background data was conducted and odds ratio (OR) was calculated to understand any association between the risk factors and the seroprevalence. An overall seroprevalence of 3.9% (Positive/Tested = 32/828) and 3.3% (27/828) was detected by RBPT and iELISA, respectively. The seroprevalence of 5.6% (CI 3.6–8.3) and 4.7%, (CI 2.8–7.2) and the odds ratio of 2.63 (CI 1.20–5.77) and 2.50 (CI 1.08–5.78) for testing positive by RBPT and iELISA, respectively were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in buffaloes than in cattle. Breed, sex, history of abortion and retention of fetal membranes (RFM) in the animals were not found statistically significantly associated with the infection. RBPT and iELISA based results agreed almost perfect (k = 0.877). In total, Brucella abortus-DNA (9/27) was amplified from seropositive samples by real-time polymerase chain reaction. This study identified for the first time the etiological agents of brucellosis at a molecular level at institutional-owned livestock farms in Pakistan.

Highlights

Brucellosis is a bacterial zoonosis caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella (B.)
IELISA, respectively, among the livestock farms sampled in Punjab, Pakistan (Tables 1 and 2)
Retention of fetal membranes (RFM) and history of abortion are purely related to females and prior pregnancy status, males and heifers were considered animals being negative for prior history for retention of fetal membranes (RFM)

Summary

Introduction

Brucellosis is a bacterial zoonosis caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella (B.). They are non-spore forming, non-motile, non-hemolytic and facultative intra-cellular living, Gram-negative coccobacilli. Brucellae show a certain host preference, e.g., B. abortus prefers bovines and B. melitensis small ruminants, cross-species transmission does occur when different animals are in close contact with each other [1,2,3,4,5,6]. Brucellosis is a bacterial zoonosis caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella (B.). They are non-spore forming, non-motile, non-hemolytic and facultative intra-cellular living, Gram-negative coccobacilli. Brucellae show a certain host preference, e.g., B. abortus prefers bovines and B. melitensis small ruminants, cross-species transmission does occur when different animals are in close contact with each other [1,2,3,4,5,6]. Humans are accidental hosts for this infection and could be prevented by eliminating the infection in animals that often have close contact with humans [12,13]

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Discussion

Conclusion