Seroprevalence and Associated Factors of Small Ruminant Brucellosis in the Dubti District of the Afar Region, Ethiopia.

Abstract

Background: Brucellosis is a bacterial zoonotic disease that leads to reproductive losses in animals, posing significant public health risks and economic challenges in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia. This study aims to estimate the seroprevalence and identify risk factors associated with small ruminant brucellosis in the region. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to April 2022 in six selected kebeles of the Dubti district in the Afar region of Ethiopia to investigate the seroepidemiology of ovine and caprine brucellosis. Researchers collected 300 serum samples from apparently healthy sheep (69) and goats (231). The samples were initially screened for brucella antigens using the rose bengal plate test (RBPT). Reactors identified by the RBPT were then confirmed using the indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (I-ELISA) at the Animal Health Institution (AHI). The study employed descriptive statistics, Pearson's chi-square (X ²), and univariable logistic regression analyses to analyze the data. Results: The overall seroprevalence of brucella infection in small ruminants in this study was 6.7% (20 out of 300). Specifically, the seroprevalence rate in sheep was 7.2% (5 out of 69), and in goats, it was 6.5% (15 out of 231). The chi-square and univariable logistic regression analyses showed no significant association between brucella seropositivity and factors such as species, sex, age, parity, district, or abortion history (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The findings of this study reveal that brucella infection is circulating in small ruminants in the study area and the broader Afar region. Further research should be conducted across the entire region that focuses on determining the regional seroprevalence of brucella, conducting molecular-based isolation, and identifying biotypes.