A Study on the Epidemiology of Bovine Brucellosis in Punjab (India) Using Milk-ELISA

Abstract

Bovine brucellosis, caused by Brucella abortus, is a serious zoonotic disease manifested by reproductive disorders resulting in huge economic losses to dairy farmers. A random survey was conducted to study the epidemiology of brucellosis in Punjab (India) using sampling software Survey Toolbox. Two-stage sampling procedure was adopted; in the first step, villages were selected randomly from sampling frame of all the villages of Punjab followed by selection of owners, and animals in individual farms were identified using random sampling. In all, 32 villages were selected and then 345 animals (approximately 5%) were sampled from these villages. The milk samples collected were screened for brucella antibodies employing ELISA test. The overall apparent prevalence of brucellosis was found to be 18.26% (true prevalence -17.68%). The prevalence in the central zone of the state was significantly higher, viz. 23.2% (chi square = 11.34, p < 0.01) compared to 14.2% in the sub-mountainous zone and 5.8% in the arid irrigated zone. The disease prevalence was found to be non-significantly higher (chi square 1.029, p = 0.310) in cattle (20.67%) compared to buffaloes (16.41%) and increased with age (chi square = 8.572, p < 0.05) in both species. There was significant association between disease and abortion (chi square = 22.322, p < 0.01) and maximum abortion cases due to brucellosis were found in > 6 month of gestation (95.7%). The disease was significantly associated with the retention of placenta (chi square = 8.477, p < 0.01), however there was no significant relationship of the disease with repeat breeding (chi square = 0.044, p = 0.834). The results of the study suggested that the accurate epidemiological scenario of the disease may be obtained by employing multistage sampling procedures using milk-based ELISA.

Risk Factors Associated with Prevalence of Bovine Brucellosis in Milk from Tamil Nadu, India

“…This result were concurred with Bachh et al, 1988, Isloor et al, 1998and Aulakh et al, 2008whereas Dhand et al, (2005 in Punjab also recorded higher prevalence of brucellosis in animals with a history of abortion (33.87%) than in those without such a history (11.63%). It obviously concluded that the Brucella is the major etiological agent for abortion in farm animals.…”

“…The low prevalence in Non-Descript breeds might be due to natural genetic resistant pattern, adoption in field environment and innate immunity (Aulakh et al, 2008).…”

Prevalence and risk factor's analysis of bovine brucellosis in peri-urban areas under intensive system of production in Gujarat, India

“…Whereas, Patel [16] and Aulakh . [17] recorded still higher animal prevalences on milk tests with corresponding figures of 28.30 and 18.26%, respectively. Whereas, few reports from India and neighboring country reported animal prevalence below 10% , the animal prevalence (11.90%) observed in present study was found higher than a wide area based bovine brucellosis prevalence (6-7%) by ELISA conducted by Renukaradhya .…”

Economic losses occurring due to brucellosis in Indian livestock populations

“…The disease prevalence data were obtained from serological surveys (Aulakh et al, 2008;Kollannur et al, 2007;Lone et al, 2013;Shome et al, 2006;Thoppil, 2000) and livestock population data from official records (Table 1-supplementary material) (DAHD & F, 2010). Many input parameters such as decrease in carcass weight, milk production and draught power, life expectancy and reproductive rates were obtained from the published scientific literature (Table 1supplementary material).…”

“…First recorded in India in 1887 (IVRI, 1977), brucellosis has now become endemic throughout the country with prevalence of the disease ranging from 6.5% to 16.4% in different species of livestock (Aulakh et al, 2008;Kollannur et al, 2007;Lone et al, 2013;Shome et al, 2006;and Thoppil, 2000). Many factors such as absence of a control policy, failure to vaccinate young female calves, non implementation of test and slaughter, ban on cow slaughter in many Indian states, absence of treatment regimen and usual practice of selling positive reactor animals to other farmers are responsible for the spread of this disease among livestock in India.…”