A RETROSPECTIvE STUDY OF bRUCELLOSIS SEROPREvALENCE IN COMMERCIAL AND SMALLHOLDER CATTLE FARMS OF ZIMbAbWE

A retrospective study covering 10 years (1995 – 2004) was conducted to investigate brucellosis seroprevalence and patterns in commercial and smallholder mixed dairy-beef cattle in Zimbabwe using surveillance data from the Central Veterinary Laboratory at Harare. Positive cases were analysed according to farming sector, administrative province, monthly and annual trends. The overall individual and herd- level brucellosis seroprevalence were estimated at 2.9% (2417/183990) and 17.8% (505/2833) respectively. Brucellosis seroprevalence varied significantly among the eight provinces of the country (p Key words: Brucellosis seroprevalence, mixed diary-beef cattle, Zimbabwe Une etude retrospective portant sur 10 annees (1995 - 2004) a ete menee afin d’evaluer la seroprevalence et les tendances de la brucellose aupres des petits exploitants commerciaux elevant des bovins laitiers et de viande au Zimbabwe ; en utilisant les donnees de surveillance du Laboratoire Central Veterinaire a Harare. Les cas positifs ont ete analyses en fonction du secteur agricole, de la province administrative, des tendances mensuelles et annuelles. La prevalence et la seroprevalence generales de la brucellose aux niveaux individuel et du troupeau ont ete estimees a 2,9% (2417/183990) et a 17,8% (505/2833), respectivement. La seroprevalence de brucellose a varie considerablement entre les huit provinces du pays (p Mots cles: seroprevalence de la brucellose, bovins de production mixte de lait et de viande de boeuf, Zimbabwe.