<i>Brucella</i> Seropositivity and Associated Risk Factors in Pastoral Livestock System in Northeastern Ethiopia

Brucellosis is a common zoonotic disease affecting livestock and humans globally. The disease is endemic in Ethiopian livestock. This study was conducted to estimate <i>Brucella</i> seropositivity and identify its risk factors in livestock, and practices that may expose pastoralists to t...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Berhanu Sibhat, Haileeyesus Adamu, Teferi Benti, Getachew Tuli, Kassahun Asmare, Johanna F. Lindahl, Ulf Magnusson, Tesfaye Sisay Tessema
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Veterinary Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/11/12/620
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850238617468796928
author Berhanu Sibhat
Haileeyesus Adamu
Teferi Benti
Getachew Tuli
Kassahun Asmare
Johanna F. Lindahl
Ulf Magnusson
Tesfaye Sisay Tessema
author_facet Berhanu Sibhat
Haileeyesus Adamu
Teferi Benti
Getachew Tuli
Kassahun Asmare
Johanna F. Lindahl
Ulf Magnusson
Tesfaye Sisay Tessema
author_sort Berhanu Sibhat
collection DOAJ
description Brucellosis is a common zoonotic disease affecting livestock and humans globally. The disease is endemic in Ethiopian livestock. This study was conducted to estimate <i>Brucella</i> seropositivity and identify its risk factors in livestock, and practices that may expose pastoralists to the disease. Data were collected from 2133 animals across 149 households (HHs) in Dubti and Amibara districts, Afar region, Ethiopia. Blood samples from livestock and household data were collected, and interviews were conducted on husbandry and dairy consumption practices. Sera were serially tested using the Rose Bengal test and indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The overall seropositivity to anti-<i>Brucella</i> antibodies was 8% (95% CI, 6.6–9.2). The antibodies were found in 12.4%, 6.5%, 6%, and 3% of the goats, cattle, camels, and sheep, respectively. Among the HHs, 59.7% had at least one seropositive animal. A mixed-effects logistic regression analysis revealed species and the acquisition of new animals (in cattle and camels), and age and district (in sheep, goats, and cattle) as significant risk factors. Goats, cattle, and camels had significantly higher odds of <i>Brucella</i> seropositivity than sheep (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Seropositivity was significantly higher (<i>p</i> < 0.05) in adults than in young animals, in acquired than in homebred (cattle and camels), and in those with reproductive disorders than those without. Pastoralists lacked knowledge of brucellosis and its modes of transmission, while practices exposing humans and livestock to brucellosis were common. The findings underscore the need for public awareness campaigns and implementation of brucellosis control measures in pastoral systems.
format Article
id doaj-art-dccb1a4dcc714a10b86cb776b2508985
institution OA Journals
issn 2306-7381
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Veterinary Sciences
spelling doaj-art-dccb1a4dcc714a10b86cb776b25089852025-08-20T02:01:24ZengMDPI AGVeterinary Sciences2306-73812024-12-01111262010.3390/vetsci11120620<i>Brucella</i> Seropositivity and Associated Risk Factors in Pastoral Livestock System in Northeastern EthiopiaBerhanu Sibhat0Haileeyesus Adamu1Teferi Benti2Getachew Tuli3Kassahun Asmare4Johanna F. Lindahl5Ulf Magnusson6Tesfaye Sisay Tessema7Institute of Biotechnology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1176, EthiopiaInstitute of Biotechnology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1176, EthiopiaAnimal Health Institute, Sebeta P.O. Box 04, EthiopiaAnimal Health Institute, Sebeta P.O. Box 04, EthiopiaFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hawassa University, Hawassa P.O. Box 05, EthiopiaDivision of Reproduction, Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7054, 750 07 Uppsala, SwedenDivision of Reproduction, Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7054, 750 07 Uppsala, SwedenInstitute of Biotechnology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1176, EthiopiaBrucellosis is a common zoonotic disease affecting livestock and humans globally. The disease is endemic in Ethiopian livestock. This study was conducted to estimate <i>Brucella</i> seropositivity and identify its risk factors in livestock, and practices that may expose pastoralists to the disease. Data were collected from 2133 animals across 149 households (HHs) in Dubti and Amibara districts, Afar region, Ethiopia. Blood samples from livestock and household data were collected, and interviews were conducted on husbandry and dairy consumption practices. Sera were serially tested using the Rose Bengal test and indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The overall seropositivity to anti-<i>Brucella</i> antibodies was 8% (95% CI, 6.6–9.2). The antibodies were found in 12.4%, 6.5%, 6%, and 3% of the goats, cattle, camels, and sheep, respectively. Among the HHs, 59.7% had at least one seropositive animal. A mixed-effects logistic regression analysis revealed species and the acquisition of new animals (in cattle and camels), and age and district (in sheep, goats, and cattle) as significant risk factors. Goats, cattle, and camels had significantly higher odds of <i>Brucella</i> seropositivity than sheep (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Seropositivity was significantly higher (<i>p</i> < 0.05) in adults than in young animals, in acquired than in homebred (cattle and camels), and in those with reproductive disorders than those without. Pastoralists lacked knowledge of brucellosis and its modes of transmission, while practices exposing humans and livestock to brucellosis were common. The findings underscore the need for public awareness campaigns and implementation of brucellosis control measures in pastoral systems.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/11/12/620brucellosiscattlecamelgoatspastoral systemspublic awareness
spellingShingle Berhanu Sibhat
Haileeyesus Adamu
Teferi Benti
Getachew Tuli
Kassahun Asmare
Johanna F. Lindahl
Ulf Magnusson
Tesfaye Sisay Tessema
<i>Brucella</i> Seropositivity and Associated Risk Factors in Pastoral Livestock System in Northeastern Ethiopia
Veterinary Sciences
brucellosis
cattle
camel
goats
pastoral systems
public awareness
title <i>Brucella</i> Seropositivity and Associated Risk Factors in Pastoral Livestock System in Northeastern Ethiopia
title_full <i>Brucella</i> Seropositivity and Associated Risk Factors in Pastoral Livestock System in Northeastern Ethiopia
title_fullStr <i>Brucella</i> Seropositivity and Associated Risk Factors in Pastoral Livestock System in Northeastern Ethiopia
title_full_unstemmed <i>Brucella</i> Seropositivity and Associated Risk Factors in Pastoral Livestock System in Northeastern Ethiopia
title_short <i>Brucella</i> Seropositivity and Associated Risk Factors in Pastoral Livestock System in Northeastern Ethiopia
title_sort i brucella i seropositivity and associated risk factors in pastoral livestock system in northeastern ethiopia
topic brucellosis
cattle
camel
goats
pastoral systems
public awareness
url https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/11/12/620
work_keys_str_mv AT berhanusibhat ibrucellaiseropositivityandassociatedriskfactorsinpastorallivestocksysteminnortheasternethiopia
AT haileeyesusadamu ibrucellaiseropositivityandassociatedriskfactorsinpastorallivestocksysteminnortheasternethiopia
AT teferibenti ibrucellaiseropositivityandassociatedriskfactorsinpastorallivestocksysteminnortheasternethiopia
AT getachewtuli ibrucellaiseropositivityandassociatedriskfactorsinpastorallivestocksysteminnortheasternethiopia
AT kassahunasmare ibrucellaiseropositivityandassociatedriskfactorsinpastorallivestocksysteminnortheasternethiopia
AT johannaflindahl ibrucellaiseropositivityandassociatedriskfactorsinpastorallivestocksysteminnortheasternethiopia
AT ulfmagnusson ibrucellaiseropositivityandassociatedriskfactorsinpastorallivestocksysteminnortheasternethiopia
AT tesfayesisaytessema ibrucellaiseropositivityandassociatedriskfactorsinpastorallivestocksysteminnortheasternethiopia