The seroprevalence and Geographic Distribution of Camel Brucellosis in Kordofan States, Western Sudan.

Abstract

Brucellosis is a highly contagious zoonotic disease that affects both humans and wildlife. It is one of the most commonly neglected diseases worldwide and can infect a wide range of domestic animals, including ruminants such as camels, as well as various wild species. This disease poses significant socioeconomic concerns. This study investigates the distribution of brucellosis in camels in Sudan's Kordofan States and compares several diagnostic tests, including a modified Rose Bengal Plate Test (mRBPT), Buffered Plate Agglutination Test (BPAT), Serum Agglutination Test (SAT), and a competitive Enzyme- Linkimmunosorbent Assay. A total of 388 apparently healthy camels were sampled to determine the seroprevalence of brucellosis. Forty-three (11.08%), 41 (10.56%) and 30 (7.73%) were found positive by (mRBPT), (BPAT) and (SAT) respectively. All serum samples were subsequently retested using (cELISA) as confirmatory test, which confirmed that 32 samples (8.24%) were positive. When comparing the screening tests to the confirmatory test, Cohen's kappa coefficients indicated poor agreement with cELISA: 16% for mRBPT, 32% for BPAT, and 31% for SAT. A kappa value of 40 or less is considered poor. This study highlights brucellosis prevalence in camels in Sudan's Western States and suggests targeted control measures. The data indicate that the mRBPT test is a more sensitive, cost-effective, and practical screening method compared to other agglutination tests.