Seroprevalence of Brucellosis and Q-Fever in Southeast Ethiopian Pastoral Livestock

Abstract

To assess seroprevalences of and in pastoral livestock in southeast Ethiopia, a cross-sectional study was carried out in three livestock species (cattle, camels and goats). The study was conducted from July 2008 to August 2010, and eight pastoral associations (PAs) from the selected districts were included in the study. Sera from a total of 1830 animals, comprising 862 cattle, 458 camels and 510 goats were screened initially with Rose Bengal plate test (RBPT) for . All RBPT positive and 25% of randomly selected negative sera were further tested by ELISA. These comprise a total of 460 animals (211 cattle, 102 camels and 147 goats). Out of sera from total of 1830 animals, 20% were randomly selected (180 cattle, 90 camels and 98 goats) and tested for using ELISA. The seroprevalences of was 1.4% (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.8-2.6), 0.9% (95% CI, 0.3-2.7)b and 9.6% (95% CI, 5.2-17.1) in cattle, camels and goats, respectively. Goats and older animals were at higher risk of infection (OR=7.3, 95% CI, 2.8-19.1) and (OR=1.7 95% CI, 0.9-2.9), respectively. Out of 98 RBPT negative camel sera, 12.0% were positive for ELISA. The seroprevalences of were 31.6% (95% CI, 24.7-39.5), 90.0% (95% CI, 81.8-94.7) and 54.2% (95% CI, 46.1-62.1) in cattle, camels and goats, respectively. We found positive animals for test in all tested PAs for all animal species. Being camel and older animal was a risk factor for infection (OR=19.0, 95% CI, 8.9-41.2) and (OR=3.6, 95% CI, 2.0-6.6), respectively. High seropositivity of in all livestock species tested and higher seropositive in goats for , implies risks of human infection by both diseases. Thus, merit necessity of further study of both diseases in animals and humans in the area.

Occurrence and Genotyping of Coxiella burnetii in Ixodid Ticks in Oromia, Ethiopia

“…39 In support of this fact, a recent serological study reported antibodies against C. burnetii in 54.2% of goats, 31.6% of cattle, and 90% of camels in eastern parts of Ethiopia. 23 In our study, a statistically significantly higher (MH, P 0.0001) prevalence of positive C. burnetii DNA in ticks was observed in southeastern districts from the Borana zone (Arero, Moyale, and Yabelo) than in the central districts (Kimbibit and Arsi). This difference is most probably attributable to factors such as the presence of larger population of cattle, goats, sheep, and camel that are usually managed by a pastoral type of management characterized by unrestricted movement of animals in search of water and grazing pasture in districts in the Borana zone.…”

“…Livestock comprising cattle, goats, sheep, and camels in Arero, Moyale, and Yabelo districts (Borana zone) are kept under a pastoral type of animal management. 23,27 This system is characterized by very large animal populations, and livestock are the main source of human food from milk and milk byproducts and the main source of income for farmers, whereas in all other study districts, animals, including cattle, sheep, goats, and equines, are kept under a crop-animal mixed type of management with extensive production systems. 23,27 Collection and identification of ticks.…”

“…22 More recently, an epidemiological study highlighted the seroprevalence of C. burnetii in 31.6% of cattle, 90% of camels, and 54.2% of goats in eastern Ethiopia. 23 Genotypic characterization of C. burnetii is a very important information for epidemiological investigation of Q fever outbreaks and is necessary to determine the epidemiological link between the source of the outbreak, human cases, and hosts involved in the life cycle. 24 Multispacer sequence typing (MST) is one of the more recently developed techniques to genotype and characterize C. burnetii strains and is known to be reliable, reproducible, and possesses high discriminatory power.…”

Seroprevalence of Q fever in farm animals in Saudi Arabia

“…In a previous study by Hussein and others [15] an even higher prevalence (62%) was observed in Saudi camels. Similarly, high prevalence (66%) were recorded in camels in Egypt [24], Chad (80%) [25] and also in nomadic camels (100%) in eastern Ethiopia [26]. This exceptionally high prevalence could be attributed to poor hygienic and management conditions under which camels are kept, as well as their heavy exposure to contaminated dust and sand during sandstorms in desert areas.…”

Seroprevalence of brucellosis among cattle slaughtered in three municipal abattoirs of Gombe state, Northeastern Nigeria

“…The geographical distribution of the disease is limited. However, it is still a major problem in livestock industry in the Asia, Africa, Latin American, and the Mediterranean regions [5,6]. …”