Seroprevalence of brucellosis in flocks of goats in Kaduna State, Northwestern Nigeria

Brucellosis is a bacterial contagious disease of animals and humans caused by bacteria of genus Brucella. A cross sectional study was carried out to determine the seroprevalence of brucellosis in flocks of goats in Maigana agro-ecological zone of Kaduna State. This study was aimed to determine the seroprevalence of brucellosis and the risk factors influencing the occurrence of Brucella specie in goats in Kaduna State. Total of four hundred (400) blood samples were tested for brucellosis using Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and Competitive Enzyme Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Out of the 400 sera samples tested, 48 (12.0%) and 24 (6.0%) were seropositive by RBPT and cELISA respectively. Out of the 147 male goats tested, 10 (6.8%) and 6 (4.1%) were seropositive, while out of 253 female goats tested, 38 (15.0%) and 18 (7.1%) were seropositive using RBPT and cELISA. There was statistically significant association (p 0.05) between the sex of goats and cELISA. Based on age distribution, the seroprevalence 13.4 and 6.3% by RBPT and cELISA were recorded in the age group 2 to 4 years. Based on breed distribution, the highest seroprevalence 13.4 and 8.1% by RBPT and cELISA were recorded in Sokoto Red. There was no statistically significant association (p>0.05) between the age and breed of goats with RBPT and cELISA. The study concludes that brucellosis is prevalent in the flocks of goat in the study area. The high seroprevalence of brucellosis is of economic and public health concern because the pastoralists regard goats’ milk to have exceptional medicine potentials. Therefore, brucellosis may be prevented via vaccination of domestic livestock, serologic testing, quarantine of herds, and slaughter of infected animals.