No abstract

Brucellosis is an endemic disease in many countries of the middle east including Iraq, despite the high attempts to control the disease in animals using vaccination programs. The study was conducted from January to March 2012, to determine the prevalence of bovine brucellosis in the Al-Najaf province in Iraq, which represent risk factors associated with brucellosis in cattle. Blood samples were collected from 172 cows and 15 bulls of 20 dualpurpose cattle herds. Serological examinations are the most useful and widely used tool for the diagnosis of brucellosis in man and animals. All animal serum samples were tested by the Rose Bengal plate test (RBT), and the positive cases were confirmed by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA). The overall prevalence of brucellosis was 5.81% divided between 5.81% in females and 0% in males, and 40% as herd numbers level. Females showed a higher seropositive reaction to the disease than males. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the presence of the disease and detected the seropositive reactions in animal samples in different farms of the province, with a difference in infection rate regarding the risk factor. Sanitary measures must be taken to avoid the occurrence and spread of the disease in humans and animals.

No abstract

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a parasitic zoonotic disease which is highly endemic in Iraq and has an extensive effect on livestock productivity and human health. The current study focused on slaughtered sheep and cattle in Al-Najaf city abattoir, which infected with hydatid cysts from the period between January 2016 till December 2018. The total sheep examined were 244806, in which 3339 were found to be positive for hydatidosis, while in cattle, the total examined number was 59001, in which 887 were found to be positive for hydatidosis. In current study, the prevalence rate was estimated to be 1.49 % for hydatidosis in sheep, whereas in cattle it was 1.60 %. There were no differences between sheep and cattle rate infections. The highest rate of infection in sheep and cattle was observed in April 2.03% and July 1.89 respectively, while the lowest rate was observed in September 1.27% and November 1.04, respectively. Seasonally, the highest infection rate of hydatid cysts was 1.60 % in spring for sheep and 1.77 % in summer for cattle. The findings of this study demonstrated that the prevalence of hydatid cysts infections is generally lower than those reported from other regions of Iraq, and at the same time, it clearly remains prevalent. Hydatid cysts are common and widely distributed in sheep and cattle and they might play an important role in the life cycle and transmission of this zoonosis in Al-Najaf province.