Abstract
BackgroundChildhood brucellosis and malaria are co-endemic febrile illnesses in some sub-Saharan African countries. Malaria and brucellosis co-infection or brucellosis sole infections are often missed due to an over emphasis on malaria and the lack of appropriate diagnostic infrastructure. Brucellosis in dogs is usually overlooked and yet there is extensive contact between humans and their pets.ObjectiveThis study investigated brucellosis in children and dogs using a confirmatory serological testing series that screens for three Brucella sp.MethodsResidual blood samples from malaria smear-negative febrile children were collected and tested for Brucella sp and malaria parasite. During the same period, residual blood samples presented to a veterinary microbiology laboratory in the same area were tested for brucellosis using the same approach.ResultsA total of 105 human and 80 canine blood samples were tested for brucellosis antibodies. The seroprevalence of brucellosis was 22.86% (25/105) in children and 1.3% (1/80) in dogs using the Card, buffered acidified plate antigen, and standard plate agglutination tests but was 0% using the rivanol precipitation plate agglutination test.ConclusionGiven that brucellosis can be caused by both smooth and rough colony strains, there is a need to modify the current serological surveillance strategy (targeted at only Brucella abortus and other smooth colony Brucella strains) to figure out the relative contribution of rough colony Brucella strains (B. ovis and B. canis). Since Uganda is endemic for brucellosis there is a need to modify the brucellosis surveillance strategy.
Highlights
Human brucellosis remains the most common zoonotic disease with more than 500 000 new cases annually, most of which are in sub-Saharan Africa.[1]
Uganda is one of the sub-Saharan Africa countries that are endemic for brucellosis and have, according to World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) data, reported cases of human brucellosis.[6]
A total of 349 human residual blood samples were received at the clinical microbiology laboratory from the paediatric ward during the study period; 80 canine residual blood samples were received at the small animal veterinary clinic during the same time period
Summary
Human brucellosis remains the most common zoonotic disease with more than 500 000 new cases annually, most of which are in sub-Saharan Africa.[1] Generally, brucellosis has no age predilection; its transmission is linked to use of or contact with known sources of infection, such as consumption of poorly made dairy products,[2,3] or contact with carcasses or aborted material of infected livestock. Uganda is one of the sub-Saharan Africa countries that are endemic for brucellosis and have, according to World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) data, reported cases of human brucellosis.[6] As per a 2006 study which estimated brucellosis globally, Uganda had an estimated incidence of 1.8 new cases per 100 000 population.[7]. Brucellosis in dogs is usually overlooked and yet there is extensive contact between humans and their pets
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