Seroprevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Bovine Brucellosis at the Wildlife-Livestock-Human Interface in Rwanda

Abstract

Bovine brucellosis is endemic in Rwanda; however, little information is available on seroprevalence and risk factors. Therefore, a cross-sectional study was conducted among cattle farmed at the wildlife-livestock-human interface (n = 1691) in five districts and one peri-urban district (n = 216). Cattle were screened using the Rose Bengal test, then the results were confirmed by indirect enzyme-linked immunesorbent assay. Potential risk factors were determined with a questionnaire and analyzed for their association with seropositivity. In all districts, the animal and herd-level seroprevalence was 7.4% (141/1907) and 28.9% (61/212), respectively, 8.3% (141/1691) and 30.9% (61/198) at the interface, and 0.0% (0/216) in peri-urban areas. Among the potential risk factors, old age (≥5 years), cattle farmed close to wildlife, herds of cattle and small ruminants, history of abortions, and replacement animals were significantly associated with brucellosis (p < 0.05). Low awareness of zoonotic brucellosis, assisting calving without biosafety protection, drinking raw milk, and manual milking were each observed in more than 21.7% of cattle keepers whose herds were seropositive. This study confirmed brucellosis endemicity in cattle farmed close to wildlife in Rwanda, suggesting the need to focus control efforts in these areas. Educated farmers with a high awareness of zoonotic brucellosis had low bovine brucellosis seropositivity, which emphasizes the importance of education.

Risk factors and Molecular genotyping of Brucella melitensis strains recovered from humans and their owned cattle in Upper Egypt

“…All cases that exposed to abortion did not use protective equipment. This agreed with a previous study [ 32 ], which recorded bare hand birth-aid as a risk factor for infection.…”

“…In this study, abortion exposure risk exhibited the highest odds for brucellosis in multivariate analysis. Similar finding was recorded in other studies in Egypt and elsewhere [ 20 , 32 ]. High loads of Brucella pathogens are shed in vaginal discharge and afterbirth materials (10 13 /g of tissue) during abortion [ 1 ], and individuals in contact with these materials are at high-risk.…”

“…We have found that keeping cattle at home was significantly associated with brucellosis cases in the univariate regression model. Cattle are important source of zoonotic brucellosis infection for humans in Egypt and worldwide [ 17 , 30 , 32 ]. In agreement with our findings, keeping cattle either alone or with other animals at home has been shown to be a risk factor for brucellosis in other studies [ 20 , 30 ].…”

An update on the distribution of Glossina (tsetse flies) at the wildlife-human-livestock interface of Akagera National Park, Rwanda

“…This situation makes the area a suitable habitat and therefore increases the tsetse challenge at the interface. The strategic control of diseases that may originate from wildlife or which are shared among livestock, wildlife and humans at the interface is crucial in the area [ 32 ].

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An update on the distribution of Glossina (tsetse flies) at the wildlife-human-livestock interface of Akagera National Park, Rwanda

“…This situation makes the area a suitable habitat and therefore increases the tsetse challenge at the interface. The strategic control of diseases that may originate from wildlife or which are shared between livestock, wildlife and humans at the interface is crucial in the area [32].…”