SEROPREVALENCE OF BRUCELLOSIS IN SHEEP AND GOATS, ITS RISK FACTORS AND ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF THE COMMUNITY IN AMIBARA AND DUBTI DISTRICTS OF AFAR REGION, ESTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Brucellosis is a global zoonotic disease that has a significant economic, social, animal and public health impact in many parts of the world. It is an endemic in livestock disease in Ethiopia. Unfortunately, reliable data on brucellosis in Afar region is scarce and data on seroprevalence and risk factors associated with small ruminant brucellosis in Amibara and Dubti districts is not well known. Across sectional study was carried out in selected districts of Afar region, Eastern Ethiopia from March to Oct 2021 to estimate seroprevalence of small ruminant brucellosis and identify potential risk factors associated with disease occurrence. A total of 638 sera from 210 sheep and goats 428 which were randomly selected using a multi-stage simple random sampling techniques. The study also assessed the pastoralists’ knowledge, attitude and practices towards brucellosis using a structured questionnaire. Antibodies against brucellosis within serum samples were tested using Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and further confirmed by Complement Fixation Test (CFT). The sample was considered as positive when CFT test result was positive. Multivariable logistic regression analysis of risk factors revealed that district, species and herd size with adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 0.32(95%, CI: 0.173-0.588), 0.256(95%, CI: 0.113-0.585) and 3.15(95%, CI: 1.404-7.267) respectively were significantly associated risk factors for the occurrence of brucellosis in sheep and goats. The present study confirms a considerably high prevalence (10.03%) of brucellosis in sheep and goats. Therefore, awareness creation to the local community on recent animal husbandry practice and risk of disease transmission, further studies should be practiced using biochemical test and molecular methods for identification and characterization circulating Bubella species in Amibara and Dubti districts of Afar region, eastern Ethiopia.