Risk Assessment of <i>Brucella</i> Exposure Through Raw Milk Consumption in India: One Health Implications and Control Strategies
Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease with significant public health implications. Understanding the risks of consuming unpasteurized (raw) milk is critical for effective control measures. A quantitative risk assessment was conducted to estimate <i>Brucella abortus</i> contamination in milk...
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2025-05-01
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| author | Vijay Sharma Balbir B. Singh Victoria J. Brookes |
| author_facet | Vijay Sharma Balbir B. Singh Victoria J. Brookes |
| author_sort | Vijay Sharma |
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| description | Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease with significant public health implications. Understanding the risks of consuming unpasteurized (raw) milk is critical for effective control measures. A quantitative risk assessment was conducted to estimate <i>Brucella abortus</i> contamination in milk from unregulated sources in Punjab, India, where 70% of milk is sold unpasteurized. Samples from lactating cattle and buffalo (N = 261) in ten villages were tested using the Rose Bengal plate test and indirect IgG ELISA. Modelled risk pathways estimated <i>B. abortus</i> shedding probabilities and colony-forming unit (CFU) concentrations in milk, with Sobol sensitivity analysis identifying influential parameters. Buffalo had a higher estimated shedding prevalence (0.04, 95% PI: 0.02–0.07) than cattle (6.3 × 10<sup>−3</sup>, 95% PI: 2.5 × 10<sup>−3</sup>–13.2 × 10<sup>−3</sup>). Mean contamination levels were 2843 CFU/100 mL (95% PI: 0–32,693 CFU/100 mL) for cattle, 17,963 CFU/100 mL (95% PI: 612–67,121 CFU/100 mL) for buffalo, and 7587 CFU/100 mL (95% PI: 82–39,038 CFU/100 mL) combined. High-shedding animals were the most influential factor (total effect sensitivity index of 0.86 [95% CI: 0.63–0.74]). Removing high-shedding animals reduced risk considerably for people who might drink raw milk once (absolute risk reduction of up to 54% in buffalo milk), but once-per-month consumption is still likely high risk. Effective risk mitigation requires a One Health approach, strengthening both public and animal health interventions, because animal health strategies alone will fail if milk from high-shedding animals reaches the unregulated milk market. |
| format | Article |
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| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-b8ca54662ab248e488f307f8593266712025-08-20T01:56:38ZengMDPI AGVeterinary Sciences2306-73812025-05-0112546510.3390/vetsci12050465Risk Assessment of <i>Brucella</i> Exposure Through Raw Milk Consumption in India: One Health Implications and Control StrategiesVijay Sharma0Balbir B. Singh1Victoria J. Brookes2Centre for One Health, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana 141004, IndiaCentre for One Health, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana 141004, IndiaSydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, AustraliaBrucellosis is a zoonotic disease with significant public health implications. Understanding the risks of consuming unpasteurized (raw) milk is critical for effective control measures. A quantitative risk assessment was conducted to estimate <i>Brucella abortus</i> contamination in milk from unregulated sources in Punjab, India, where 70% of milk is sold unpasteurized. Samples from lactating cattle and buffalo (N = 261) in ten villages were tested using the Rose Bengal plate test and indirect IgG ELISA. Modelled risk pathways estimated <i>B. abortus</i> shedding probabilities and colony-forming unit (CFU) concentrations in milk, with Sobol sensitivity analysis identifying influential parameters. Buffalo had a higher estimated shedding prevalence (0.04, 95% PI: 0.02–0.07) than cattle (6.3 × 10<sup>−3</sup>, 95% PI: 2.5 × 10<sup>−3</sup>–13.2 × 10<sup>−3</sup>). Mean contamination levels were 2843 CFU/100 mL (95% PI: 0–32,693 CFU/100 mL) for cattle, 17,963 CFU/100 mL (95% PI: 612–67,121 CFU/100 mL) for buffalo, and 7587 CFU/100 mL (95% PI: 82–39,038 CFU/100 mL) combined. High-shedding animals were the most influential factor (total effect sensitivity index of 0.86 [95% CI: 0.63–0.74]). Removing high-shedding animals reduced risk considerably for people who might drink raw milk once (absolute risk reduction of up to 54% in buffalo milk), but once-per-month consumption is still likely high risk. Effective risk mitigation requires a One Health approach, strengthening both public and animal health interventions, because animal health strategies alone will fail if milk from high-shedding animals reaches the unregulated milk market.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/5/465<i>Brucella abortus</i>bovinecattleIndiapasteurisationPunjab |
| spellingShingle | Vijay Sharma Balbir B. Singh Victoria J. Brookes Risk Assessment of <i>Brucella</i> Exposure Through Raw Milk Consumption in India: One Health Implications and Control Strategies Veterinary Sciences <i>Brucella abortus</i> bovine cattle India pasteurisation Punjab |
| title | Risk Assessment of <i>Brucella</i> Exposure Through Raw Milk Consumption in India: One Health Implications and Control Strategies |
| title_full | Risk Assessment of <i>Brucella</i> Exposure Through Raw Milk Consumption in India: One Health Implications and Control Strategies |
| title_fullStr | Risk Assessment of <i>Brucella</i> Exposure Through Raw Milk Consumption in India: One Health Implications and Control Strategies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Risk Assessment of <i>Brucella</i> Exposure Through Raw Milk Consumption in India: One Health Implications and Control Strategies |
| title_short | Risk Assessment of <i>Brucella</i> Exposure Through Raw Milk Consumption in India: One Health Implications and Control Strategies |
| title_sort | risk assessment of i brucella i exposure through raw milk consumption in india one health implications and control strategies |
| topic | <i>Brucella abortus</i> bovine cattle India pasteurisation Punjab |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/5/465 |
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