Epidemiology of Brucellosis in Small Ruminants

Abstract

Brucellosis is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by a bacterium of the genus Brucella , common to certain animals, both domestic and wild, and to humans. Historically, this disease is known as Malta fever or melitococcal disease. The causative agent was isolated in 1887 on the Island of Malta by David Bruce. Its extension is worldwide with a predominance in developing countries. The determinants of the epidemiology of the disease in small ruminants in sub-Saharan Africa are not well understood and the available data are fragmentary and sometimes insufficient. This bacterial infection affects thousands of people around the world. The main clinical signs of brucellosis in small ruminants are abortion, retained placenta, stillbirth, orchitis and arthritis. Infected animals, milk and dairy products are the sources of infection in humans. B. melitensis , B. abortus and B. suis are the most important species in terms of public health and economy. Pigs are the source of almost all human contaminations. B. melitensis , the species most frequently implicated in human pathology, is largely predominant in sheep and goats. This organism contains three biovars and all of them can cause disease in small ruminants. The purpose of this article is to summarize the epidemiological data collected from bibliographic references: the causative agent of the disease, clinical manifestations, sources and modes of transmission of infection, diagnosis and prophylaxis.