Risk Factors Associated with Brucellosis Seropositivity in Goat Farms of Sing Buri Province, Thailand

Abstract

During 2012 - 2016, goat farms in Sing Buri province were growing rapidly with support from the Thai government. In the following three years (2017-2019), the analysis of brucellosis surveillance data indicated that the seropositivity of brucellosis in goats increased. Therefore, this study attempted to identify possible risk factors associated with brucellosis seropositivity in meat goats raised in Sing Buri province of Thailand. A case-control study was conducted in a random sampling of 72 goat farms in Sing Buri province, Thailand. Questionnaires were used to collect information regarding farm production types, husbandry, goat health management, grazing management, breeding, carcass management, and goat purchasing. Bivariate and logistic regression analyses were used to determine the risk factors of Brucella seropositivity. Results revealed that the most frequent health complaint by the farmers was a stillbirth. Brucella seropositivity at the farm level was 26.4%. The two most probable risk factors for seropositivity included raising goats in a communal pasture and keeping goats with a history of clinical signs associated with brucellosis. In conclusion, approximately 25% of goat farms in Sing Buri province were infected by the bacteria genus Brucella. The farmers were recommended to attentively seek and cull for a brucellosis-suspected goat in their farms using clinical signs or symptoms together with active serosurveillance. Furthermore, communal pasture avoidance would also help prevent the goat from Brucella infection.