Seroprevalence of bovine brucellosis and associated risk factors in and around Alage district, Ethiopia.

Hagos Asgedom,Reta Duguma,Delesa Damena

doi:10.1186/s40064-016-2547-0

Hagos Asgedom, Reta Duguma + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s40064-016-2547-0

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Journal: SpringerPlus	Publication Date: Jun 23, 2016
Citations: 38	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Amhara Regional Health Bureau

Abstract

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease with economic and public health impact, particularly for human and animal populations within developing countries that relay on livestock production. A cross sectional study was conducted between October 2013 and March 2014 in and around Alage district to determine the seroprevalence of bovine brucellosis and associated risk factors. A total of 804 sera samples; 421 from cattle managed under extensive production system and 383 from cattle managed under intensive production system were collected. Multistage cluster sampling method was employed to sample unvaccinated cattle above 6 months of age. Rose Bengal Plate Test and c-ELISA were used in serial for detection of antibodies against Brucella species. The overall seroprevalence was 2.4 %, and herd level seroprevalence was 45.9 %. A prevalence of 3.3 and 1.3 % was recorded in the extensive and intensive farms respectively. Among the three sites, seropositivity of 3.4 % in Naka, 3.3 % in Negelewudisha and 1.3 % in Alage were recorded. Risk factors such as age, sex, number of service per conception, calving interval and reproductive status were associated with serostatus of brucellosis. Taken as a whole, cattle in both intensive and extensive production systems are endemically infected by brucellosis at low level in the study areas. This warrants the need of integrated intervention strategies to minimize the spread of the disease in animals and reduce the risk of transmission to humans.

Highlights

Brucellosis is a highly contagious, zoonotic and economically important bacterial disease of animals worldwide and it is considered as one of the most widespread zoonoses in the world (Schelling et al 2003)
The majority of the participants in intensive farms were well aware of brucellosis
The present study showed that the overall seroprevalence of bovine brucellosis in Alage and its surrounding was at low level (2.4 %)

Summary

Introduction

Brucellosis is a highly contagious, zoonotic and economically important bacterial disease of animals worldwide and it is considered as one of the most widespread zoonoses in the world (Schelling et al 2003). The disease in cattle, usually caused by Brucella abortus and occasionally by Brucella melitensis and Brucella suis, is characterised by late term abortion, infertility and reduced milk production (OIE 2008). Aborted foetuses and discharges contain large number of infectious organisms and transmit the disease within and in between herds. Chronically infected cattle can shed lower numbers of organisms via milk and reproductive tract discharges, and can vertically transmit infection to subsequently. The epidemiology of cattle brucellosis is influenced by several factors including factors associated with disease transmission between herds, factors influencing the maintenance and spread of infection within herds (Crawford et al 1990). Understanding the epidemiology of brucellosis is vital for strategizing evidence based disease control measures. Such information is inadequate in sub-Saharan Africa. Appropriate preventive measures have not been undertaken in this part of the world (McDermott and Arimi 2002)

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