Brucellosis in ruminants and pastoralists in Borena, Southern Ethiopia.

ETHIOPIA; SUB-Saharan Africa

Brucellosis is a bacterial zoonotic disease that has important veterinary and public health consequences as well as economic impact in sub Saharan Africa including Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted in four selected districts of Borena Pastoral setting in Southern Ethiopia from October 2017 to February 2018 to estimate the prevalence of brucellosis and assess associated risk factors in cattle, sheep, goats and occupationally associated humans. A total of 750 cattle, 882 sheep and goats and 341 human subjects were screened for evidence of brucellosis using the Rose Bengal Test (RBT) with positive results confirmed by Competitive-ELISA(c-ELISA). Structured questionnaires were used for collection of metadata from individual animals, herders and animal attendants to test the association between explanatory and outcome variables. The overall animal level prevalence was 2.4% (95% confidence interval, CI: 1.4–3.7) in cattle, 3.2% (95% CI: 2.1–4.6) in sheep and goats, and 2.6% (95% CI: 1.2–5) in humans occupationally linked to livestock production systems. Herd size, parity, and history of abortion were risk factors associated with Brucella seropositivity (P<0.05) in cattle whereas in sheep and goats the results showed that district, age group, flock size, and history of abortion were significantly associated risk factors with Brucella seropositivity (P<0.05). Assisting calving and presence of seropositive animals in a household (P<0.05) were significantly associated with Brucella seropositivity in humans. Evidence of brucellosis in various animal species and the associated human population illustrates the need for a coordinated One Health approach to controlling brucellosis so as to improve public health and livestock productivity. Author summary: Brucellosis is a bacterial infectious disease with public health and economic importance mainly in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). The burden of this disease in livestock and its zoonotic importance in humans in sub-Saharan Africa including Ethiopia is poorly understood. In Ethiopia, although epidemiological studies were conducted in intensive dairy herds in high lands areas, there is shortage of data on the epidemiology and public health and impacts of brucellosis. This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence brucellosis in different species of livestock and pastoralists and thereafter to identify the potential risk factors affecting its occurrence and transmission. To this effect, a one health approach was used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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