Prevalence of brucellosis among patients attending Wau Hospital, South Sudan

Abstract

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease of public health importance; its prevalence varies globally. In low-income countries, brucellosis is an endemic and neglected disease affecting both animals and humans. This study was intended to establish brucellosis sero-prevalence among patients attending Wau hospital, South Sudan. Across sectional study, was done among randomly selected patients attending Wau hospital. Data was collected using questionnaires and laboratory investigations. Rose Bengal plate Test (RBPT), Serum agglutination test (SAT) and Competitive Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (c-ELISA) was used in the analysis of blood samples serially starting with RBPT which is more sensitive and least specific then SAT. c-ELISA test which is most specific and less sensitive compared to RBPT and SAT was then used to confirm presence of Brucella antibodies in the samples. A total of 416 participants out of 1664 were enrolled to this study. The majority of participants were between 7-to-76 years of age with mean age of 30.72 (SD+/- 12.83). The sero-positivity of patient’s blood samples for brucellosis using c-ELISA was 23.3% (97/416) among patients presenting to Wau hospital. Socio-demographic characteristics, occupation, clinical signs of disease and types of animals reared by animal owners showed no significant correlation with occurrence of sero-positivity among patient’s blood samples for brucellosis. While ethnicity (Nilotic), knowledge of zoonotic disease, and consumption of animal urine were statistically significant (p<0.05). The study found a high prevalence of brucellosis among febrile patients attending Wau hospital general outpatient clinic. There is need for co-ordination and collaboration between veterinary and health sectors of government to help prevent and control brucellosis in the region.

Sero-epidemiology and risk factor analysis of human brucellosis in Punjab, Pakistan: a cross sectional study

“…These results are found slightly elevated than results of previous studies by (Din et al, 2013) with 9.33% and (Perveen & Shahid, 2015) with 10% seroprevalence in district Bhimber and Charsadda, Pakistan respectively. In contrast, the current findings were lower than the results of 23.30% by (Madut et al, 2018) in Sudan, 17% by (Tumwine et al, 2015) in Uganda and 18% by (Arvas et al, 2013) in Turkey. This variation in the seroprevalence of human brucellosis in different districts of Punjab is due to the difference in livestock population, environmental conditions, personal protection methods used to deal with animals and trend of consuming pasteurized dairy products (Ducrotoy et al, 2014).…”

“…As the level of education increases, the prevalence of brucellosis decreases. This finding is in concordance with findings of (Ali et al, 2018) in Pakistan and (Madut et al, 2018) in Sudan. Such results are due to the fact that educated individuals prefer to consume pasteurized milk and its products as well as have a concept of zoonotic disease transmission (Tumwine et al, 2015).…”

“…Keeping animals at home is considered as one of the prominent factors linked with human brucellosis and the results depicts that the risk of brucellosis is twice in individuals having animals at homes (OR= 2.03). This fact is supported by (Tumwine et al, 2015) and similar findings were also found by (Madut et al, 2018). Correspondingly, the individuals involved in slaughtering of animals are fifteen times more prone to brucellosis as the prevalence in slaughterers is 61.90% in contrast to others 20.04%.…”

“…Correspondingly, the individuals involved in slaughtering of animals are fifteen times more prone to brucellosis as the prevalence in slaughterers is 61.90% in contrast to others 20.04%. The findings of (Ali et al, 2018) showed 24% prevalence while (Madut et al, 2018) recorded 33.3% in slaughter workers. This could be attributed to the direct contact with infected animals, handling their offals and consumption of their infected products.…”

Brucellosis: Prevalence with reference to East African community countries – A rapid review

“…In this study, an overall individual animal sero‐prevalence of 31.9% by RBT and 29.3% by c‐ELISA was reported. A series of three brucellosis sero‐prevalence studies was also conducted by Madut et al on febrile patients attending hospital, on cattle and their herders and on slaughter house workers in the region of Bahr el Ghazal (Madut et al., 2019; Madut, Muwonge, et al, 2018; Madut, Nasinyama, et al, 2018). The prevalence among 416 febrile patients attending Wau hospital in Bahr el Ghazal region was 23.3% after tests of blood samples by RBT and Serum Agglutination and confirmation of results by c‐ELISA (Madut, Muwonge, et al, 2018; Madut, Nasinyama, et al, 2018).…”