Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health Group, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, London, UK.
BMC Public Health. 2011 May 19;11:341. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-11-341.
Brucellosis is regarded as one of the major zoonotic infections worldwide. It was first reported in Egypt in 1939 and is now endemic, the predominate species of Brucella in cattle and buffalo in Egypt is B. melitensis. The aim of the study was to estimate seroprevalence of Brucella spp. in cattle and buffalo reared in households in an Egyptian village, identify risk factors for animals testing seropositive and to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs) of livestock owners with regards to brucellosis.
A cross-sectional study was carried out in a village in Menufiya Governorate of Egypt. In June and July 2009, 107 households were selected using systematic sample and all lactating cattle and buffalo present in the household were sampled and tested for antibodies against Brucella spp. In addition, a questionnaire collecting information on potential risk factors for Brucella spp. infection in cattle and buffalo was administered to the household member responsible for rearing the livestock. Between December 2009 and February 2010 households were revisited and a second questionnaire regarding KAPs associated with brucellosis was administered.
True individual and household seroprevalence were estimated to be 11.0% (95% CI: 3.06% to 18.4%) and 15.5% (95% CI: 6.61% to 24.7%), respectively. Cattle and buffalo kept in a household with sheep and goats had 6.32 (95% CI: 1.44 to 27.9) times the odds of testing seropositive for Brucella spp., compared to cattle and buffalo that were not. Most participants in the study stated that livestock owners assist in the parturition of ruminants without wearing gloves and that some farmers sell animals which they suspect are Brucella infected to butchers or at market. Many participants made their livestock's milk into cheese and other dairy products without pasteurising it.
Brucellosis was endemic at high levels, in the current study. Although livestock owners had good general knowledge of brucellosis, they still appeared to participate in high-risk behaviours, which may contribute to the high seroprevalence in the area. Veterinarians, public health authorities and other community leaders need to collaborate to control the disease in animals and to manage the risk of human exposure.
布鲁氏菌病被认为是世界范围内主要的人畜共患病感染之一。它于 1939 年在埃及首次报告，目前在埃及流行，牛和水牛中主要的布鲁氏菌种类是 B. melitensis。本研究的目的是估计在埃及一个村庄家庭饲养的牛和水牛中布鲁氏菌病的血清流行率，确定动物血清阳性的危险因素，并评估牲畜所有者对布鲁氏菌病的知识、态度和实践（KAP）。
在埃及门努菲亚省的一个村庄进行了一项横断面研究。2009 年 6 月至 7 月，使用系统抽样选择了 107 户家庭，对家庭中所有哺乳期的牛和水牛进行了采样和布鲁氏菌病抗体检测。此外，对负责饲养牲畜的家庭成员进行了收集与牛布鲁氏菌病感染相关的潜在危险因素的信息的问卷。2009 年 12 月至 2010 年 2 月，家庭被重新访问，并进行了第二份与布鲁氏菌病相关的 KAP 相关的问卷。
个体和家庭真实的血清流行率分别估计为 11.0%（95%可信区间：3.06%至 18.4%）和 15.5%（95%可信区间：6.61%至 24.7%）。与未饲养绵羊和山羊的牛和水牛相比，饲养绵羊和山羊的牛和水牛布鲁氏菌病血清阳性的可能性高 6.32 倍（95%可信区间：1.44 至 27.9）。研究中的大多数参与者表示，牲畜所有者在协助反刍动物分娩时不戴手套，一些农民将他们怀疑感染布鲁氏菌的动物卖给屠夫或在市场上出售。许多参与者在没有巴氏消毒的情况下将他们的牲畜的牛奶制成奶酪和其他乳制品。
在本研究中，布鲁氏菌病呈地方性高流行。尽管牲畜所有者对布鲁氏菌病有很好的一般认识，但他们似乎仍参与高风险行为，这可能导致该地区的高血清流行率。兽医、公共卫生当局和其他社区领导人需要合作控制动物中的疾病，并管理人类接触的风险。
