Seroprevalence of brucellosis in goats and sheep in Thailand: Results from the Thai National Brucellosis Surveillance System from 2013 to 2015

Abstract

In Thailand, brucellosis re-emerged in humans in 2003 and is considered a public health risk to goat farmers as the disease is endemic in small ruminants. The Thai Department of Livestock Development (DLD) established a nationwide surveillance system for brucellosis in goats and sheep in 1997. Using data from this surveillance system, we describe the seroprevalence of brucellosis from 2013 to 2015 in small ruminants and the spatial distribution of the disease throughout Thailand. Surveillance data collected included the number of animals and herds tested, the province of the animal and herd and the laboratory results. Seroprevalence was estimated at both the animal and herd levels. During the 3-year period, 443,561 goats and sheep were tested for brucellosis by the DLD throughout Thailand using the Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test for Brucella. Among the 3 years, 2013 had the highest proportion of herds that tested positive for brucellosis at 13.80% (95% CI, 12.52, 15.16). Overall, this study found that brucellosis seroprevalence in small ruminants is decreasing throughout Thailand. However, there is variability in the spread of the disease with provinces in the eastern and western regions of Thailand having higher proportions of animals and herds testing positive. Overall provinces in the south had the lowest proportion of animals and herds testing positive for brucellosis. Periodic review of surveillance data documents the impact of the current brucellosis control programme and supports a targeted response in higher prevalence regions when there are limited financial resources for control measures.

Epidemiology of Brucellosis in Small Ruminants of Rural and Peri-Urban Areas of Multan, Pakistan

“…In contrast to our findings, some previous studies showed lower prevalence rates of small ruminant brucellosis such as 1.79% in Tselemti district, Northern Ethiopia [ 45 ], 1.8% in Debre Zeit and Modjo export abattoirs of Oromia Regional State of Ethiopia [ 46 ], 1.2% in Gambia [ 47 ], 5.1% in different farms of Punjab, Pakistan [ 36 ], 6.26% in Southeast Europe [ 48 ], 0.4% in Northwest Ethiopia [ 49 ], 3.4% in Quetta and its surrounding areas of Pakistan [ 50 ], 3.2% in Borena, Southern Ethiopia [ 51 ], and 4.5% in China [ 52 ]. On the other hand, as compared to our findings, higher prevalence rates had also been reported in some parts of the world including South Omo Zone, Ethiopia [ 53 ], Iraq [ 54 ], India [ 23 ], Thailand [ 55 ], Nigeria [ 56 ], and Jordan [ 57 ]. The varied prevalence rates of brucellosis in different regions might be due to differences in sensitivities and specificities of techniques used for diagnosis of bacteria, husbandry practices, and geoclimatic conditions which might be more suitable (for bacteria to grow) in regions with higher prevalence rates [ 58 ].…”

Spatial risk of disease transmission between wild bovids and livestock in Thailand

“…Research and development for other endemic diseases like FMD, HS, and brucellosis is still ongoing (75)(76)(77). Culling livestock infected with zoonotic diseases (e.g., bTB, brucellosis) is commonly implemented in Thailand (78,79). However, infected animals often undergo illegal translocation, potentially spreading the disease to other locations.…”

Abattoir-Based Serological Surveillance and Spatial Risk Analysis of Foot-and-Mouth Disease, Brucellosis, and Q Fever in Lao PDR Large Ruminants

“…reported in Chiang Rai, Thailand was 3.3% in dairy cattle [ 39 ]. Other studies in Thailand reported that seroprevalences were 1.4% in goats and 1.6% in sheep in 2013 [ 40 ] and overall 0.72% in small ruminants between 2013 and 2015 [ 41 ]. It is interesting that brucellosis is not a prevalent infection in cattle in this tropical, low-density production system.…”