Seroprevalence and characterization of Brucella species in cattle slaughtered at Gauteng abattoirs, South Africa

Abstract

BackgroundBrucellosis is an infectious and contagious zoonotic bacterial disease of both humans and animals. In developing countries where brucellosis is endemic, baseline data on the prevalence of brucellosis, using abattoir facilities, is important.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of antibodies against Brucella in slaughter cattle at Gauteng province, South Africa and to characterize isolates of Brucella spp.MethodsIn this cross‐sectional study, un‐clotted blood samples with corresponding organ tissue samples were collected from slaughtered cattle. Serological [Rose Bengal test (RBT), complement fixation test (CFT) and indirect ELISA (iELISA)], molecular (PCR) and bacteriological methods were used to detect Brucella antibodies and Brucella spp. from 200 slaughtered cattle in 14 abattoirs.ResultsThe RBT revealed a seroprevalence of brucellosis as 11.0% (22 of 200) and iELISA confirmed 5.5% (11 of 200). The estimated seroprevalence from RBT and iELISA was 5.5% while RBT and CFT was 2.0% (4 of 200). Brucella melitensis (n = 6) and B. abortus (n = 5) were isolated from 11 cattle tissues (5.5%) as confirmed to species level with AMOS PCR and differentiated from vaccine strains with Bruce‐ladder PCR. Seven of the 11 isolates originated from seropositive cattle of which five were biotyped as B. abortus bv 1 (n = 2) and B. melitensis bv 2 (n = 1) and B. melitensis bv 3 (n = 2).ConclusionsThis is the first documentation of B. melitensis in cattle in South Africa. The zoonotic risk of brucellosis posed by Brucella‐infected slaughter cattle to abattoir workers and consumers of improperly cooked beef cannot be ignored.

Seroprevalence of Bovine Brucellosis in Selected Districts of Zambia

“…In comparison to findings from studies in other countries in Southern Africa, our herd seroprevalence is comparatively lower than the 9.9% and 30.1% reported in Zimbabwe [35]. At animal level, our findings are higher than the 5.5 % reported in South Africa [19], but comparable to the 7.4 % in Northern Malawi [22].…”

“…In Southern Africa, the accurate brucellosis picture is not clearly known because most reports are based on nonrepresentative laboratory results. In South Africa for instance, a 5.5 % seroprevalence reported recently by [19] showed that the disease control scheme introduced in 1968 had an impact in reducing the disease prevalence. In Namibia, brucellosis is endemic in communal herds and commercial farms in low proportions [20].…”

Seroprevalence of Bovine Brucellosis in Selected Districts of Zambia

“…In Southern Africa, the accurate brucellosis picture is not clearly known because most reports are based on non-representative laboratory results. In South Africa, for instance, a 5.5% seroprevalence reported recently [ 19 ] showed that the disease control scheme introduced in 1968 had an impact in reducing the disease prevalence. In Namibia, brucellosis is endemic in communal herds and commercial farms in low proportions [ 20 ].…”

Development of a Genus-Specific Brucella Real-Time PCR Assay Targeting the 16S-23S rDNA Internal Transcribed Spacer from Different Specimen Types

“…This shows that prevalence has increased from initial diagnostic reports. Kolo et al [ 54 ] reported a prevalence of 12.5% (25/200) from screened cattle tissues by conventional ITS-PCR; however, this was conducted on abattoir samples from apparently healthy animals. In a study carried out in Egypt, a total of 47 aborted foetuses with related placenta were examined.…”