Seroprevalence Study of Bovine Brucellosis and its Public Heath Significance in Western Tigray, Ethiopia
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Date
2008-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
A Cross Sectional Study Was Conducted to Determine The Seroprevalence and Associations With
Potential Risk Factors of Brucellosis in Cattle and Humans in Western Zone of Tigray Regional State
Between October 2007 and February 2008. A Two-Stage Cluster Sampling Method Was Used in This
Study. A Total of 1968 Cattle Were Examined. of These 1120 Cattle Were Examined From Semiintensive
Production System and 848 Cattle From Extensive One. Human Risk Groups To Brucellosis
Were Purposively Sampled. Sera Sampling Was Carried Out From all Cattle Above Six Months of Age
With No History of Previous Vaccination Against Brucellosis. The Types of Tests Used to Detect The
Presence of Brucella Antibodies Were Rose Bengal Plate Test And Complement Fixation Test. The
Overall Individual Animal Prevalence Was 4.9%. There Were High Significant Differences
(P=O.OOO) in Seroprevalence To Brucella Antibody Between Semi-Intensive And Extensive
Production Systems. The Seroprevalence To Brucella Antibodies Among Nine Towns In The Semiintensive
and The Three Districts (Hmera, Tsegede And Welkait) at Both Individual and Herd Levels
In The Extensive Production System Were Comparable. Seroreactor in Both Sexes of Cattle Were
Varied Significantly. Females Were More Infected. Seroprevalence by Categories of Ages and Herd
Sizes Were Significantly Different. Higher Risk to Infection Was Found in Barka Breeds Than Arado
In The Semi-Intensive Production System But Not in The Extensive Production System. History of
Abortion Was Found Significantly (P=0.001) Associated With Brucellosis. Watering Points and
Culling Methods of Management and Husbandry Related Factors Were Significantly Associated With
Seropositivity to Brucellosis and Brucellosis Increased The Calving Intervals. in A Total Of 246
Vulnerable Groups of Humans to Brucellosis 1.2% Overall Seropositive To Brucella Antibodies Were
Obtained With all Positive Reactors Being Herdsmen. There Was A High Risk of Acquiring The
Infection During Removal of Retained Fetal Membranes and in Those Who Were Both in Contacts
With Animals and Drank Raw Milk. A High Prevalence of Brucellosis In Barka Breeds in The Study
Area Indicates That It Might Serve As Source of Infection For Others in The Region. Hence, Before
Distributipg This Breed Screening Test For Brucellosis Is Recommended. While In Case of Human
Brucellosis, Since Its Presence Is Confirmed and The Risk Factors Were Identified, The Medical
Personnel Should Give Attention to Its Differential Diagnosis With Aims of Offering Specific
Therapies To True Cases And Creating Awareness Via Education Campaigns to Human Risk Groups.
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Key Words: Breed, Cattle, Cross-Sectional Survey, Brucellosis, Human, Production System, Risk
Factors, Western Tigray
Description
Keywords
Breed, Cattle, Cross-Sectional Survey, Brucellosis, Human, Production System, Risk Factors, Western Tigray