SERO-PREVALENCE OF BRUCELLOSIS IN CAMELS AND FEBRILE HUMAN PATIENTS ATTENDING HEALTH FACILITIES IN SELECTED DISTRICTS OF EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Brucellosis is one of the major public health and socio-economic issues in the 21st century globally especially in developing countries including Ethiopia with various risk factors maintaining and perpetuating its spread. A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of brucellosis in camels and febrile human patients, and associated risk factors in selected districts of eastern Ethiopia from December 2017 to July 2018. A total of 578 camel sera were collected by systematic random sampling and 231 human sera were collected from purposely selected febrile patients. Questionnaire was administred to 98 camel owners. Sera were screened using Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and positive samples were then confirmed by Complement Fixation Test (CFT). Associated risk factors were analysised using chi-square (fisher exact) and binary logistic regression. The overall seroprevalence of camel brucellosis was 3.5% by RBPT and 1.6% by CFT and that of human brucellosis was 19.5% by RBPT and 4.8% by CFT. The statistical analysis indicated that history of abortion (χ2=20.056; p=0.001 and OR=27.98; 95% CI=3.20-244.38) and retained fetal membrane (χ2=6.676; p=0.039 and OR=11.23; 95% CI=1.13-111.35) were significantly associated with seroprevalence of brucellosis. But sex, age, herd size and composition, reproductive status, parity and geographical location were not associated with seroprevalence (P>0.05). Assisting animals during parturition and contact with fetal membranes were potential risk factors associated with human brucellosis. From a total of the 98 camel owners participated in the interview, all of them drank fresh raw milk regularly whereby 9.2% of them owned the sero-positive camels. The risk of Brucella infection was found to be high 75.5% (74/98) in owners with close contact to their animals (OR = 2.79, 95% CI=0.33-23.55). The binary logistic regression analysis showed that 21.2% (7/9) of the respondents previously having flu-like symptoms were found to be significantly associated with owning seropositive camels (OR = 8.48, 95% CI=1.65, 43.57). The results of the present investigation indicate the presence Brucellosis in human and camel in studied districts of eastern Ethiopia. Hence, controlling the risk factors, proper hygienic practices, public education and team work between veterinarian and public health personnel should be improved.