SEROPREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS OF SHEEP AND GOATS BRUCELLOSIS AND ITS PUBLIC HEALTH IMPORTANCE IN HABRO DISTRICT, WEST HARARGHE ZONE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Brucellosis is a bacterial disease with high economic and public health importance in sub-Saharan African countries. A cross- sectional study was conducted in Habro district,West Harerghe zone,Ethiopia; from June 2022 to March 2023 to estimate the seroprevalence of sheep and goats brucellosis and questionaire survey to identify risk factors of the disease and its public health implication. Out of 404 animals ( 83 Sheep and 321Goats) both sex of above six month of age were randomly sampled sera screened by the Rose Bengal Plate test (RBPT) 92(22.8%) were positive The RBPT positive results were further confirmed by indirect Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (i-ELISA) 3 (0.74%) positive. Fisher exact was used to test the association between groups of each risk factors and infection with brucella. The overall sero prevalence of 0.74%(3 of 404) sheep and goats brucellosis was recorded.Although stastically not significant (P>0.05). Seropositivity was significantly higher in animals having history of abortion than no having history of abortion (p=0.003). The questionnaire survey revealed that 90 % of respondents have no awareness about zoonotic disease; and 70.8% of the respondents assisted in removing retained fetal membranes and disposal of the placenta and aborted fetuses with bare-hands. In addition, about 82% and 18% of aborted materials lie on the field and feed dogs respectively. Even if, the result of the present study showed that the sero prevalence of sheep and goats brucellosis in the study area was very low; the finding the power to indicate the presence of the problem in the area and it has a possible risk of spread brucellosis in the future. Therefore, eliminating the positive reactors will provide better considerable success in the control of brucellosis in study area and public awareness creation and training on risk of economic loss and zoonotic importance of brucellosis.