Efrem Ghebremeskel Habteyohannes, Mihreteab Bereket, Ghebremariam Michael K, Okbamichael Tekeste, Ghebresilasie Yosief, Mor Siobhan M, Mamo Gezahegne
National Animal and Plant Health, Laboratory, Ministry of Agriculture, Asmara, Eritrea.
Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Immunology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, Addis Ababa University, Bishoftu, Ethiopia.
Front Vet Sci. 2023 Jun 15;10:1177572. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1177572. eCollection 2023.
Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease with worldwide distribution. It is considered endemic in Eritrea, however, the current prevalence status and related risk factors in animals are unknown. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of and risk factors for brucellosis in dairy cattle in Maekel and Debub regions, Eritrea.
A cross sectional study was conducted between August 2021 and February 2022. A total of 2,740 dairy cattle from 214 herds in 10 sub-regions of Eritrea were selected for blood and data collection. Blood samples were tested using Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and positive samples were confirmed using competitive (c-ELISA). Data on risk factors was collected using questionnaire and analyzed using logistic regression.
In total, 34/2740 animals tested positive by RBPT. Of these, 29 were confirmed positive by c-ELISA, giving an apparent and estimated true individual-level prevalence of 1.1% (95% CI: 0.7, 1.5%) and 1.3% (95% CI: 0.9, 1.8%), respectively. Sixteen herds (7.5%) tested positive by RBPT and of these 15 herds (7.0%) were confirmed positive by c-ELISA, giving an estimated true herd-level prevalence of 7.0% (95% CI: 4.0, 10.7). Animal and herd-level apparent prevalence was 1.6 and 9.2% in Maekel, while in Debub it was 0.6 and 5.5%, respectively. Multivariable regression analysis indicated that non-pregnant lactating cows (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 3.35; = 0.042) were more likely to be sero-positive. History of abortion on the farm (aOR = 5.71; = 0.026) and larger number of cows in the herd (aOR = 1.14; < 0.001) were associated with brucellosis sero-positivity in herds.
Brucellosis prevalence was low in the study areas. Nonetheless, this low prevalence may increase if the disease is not controlled. Therefore, testing animals before movement, good farming practices, sanitary measures, and an awareness raising program on brucellosis are recommended.
布鲁氏菌病是一种在全球范围内传播的人畜共患病。在厄立特里亚，该病被视为地方病，但目前动物中的流行状况及相关风险因素尚不清楚。本研究的目的是确定厄立特里亚马凯尔和德布卜地区奶牛布鲁氏菌病的流行率及风险因素。
于2021年8月至2022年2月进行了一项横断面研究。从厄立特里亚10个次区域的214个牛群中总共选取了2740头奶牛进行血液采集和数据收集。血液样本采用虎红平板凝集试验（RBPT）进行检测，阳性样本通过竞争酶联免疫吸附试验（c-ELISA）进行确认。使用问卷收集风险因素数据，并采用逻辑回归进行分析。
总共2740头动物中有34头通过RBPT检测呈阳性。其中，29头通过c-ELISA确认呈阳性，个体水平的表观流行率和估计真实流行率分别为1.1%（95%置信区间：0.7，1.5%）和1.3%（95%置信区间：0.9，1.8%）。16个牛群（7.5%）通过RBPT检测呈阳性，其中15个牛群（7.0%）通过c-ELISA确认呈阳性，估计真实牛群水平流行率为7.0%（95%置信区间：4.0，10.7）。马凯尔地区动物和牛群水平的表观流行率分别为1.6%和9.2%，而在德布卜地区分别为0.6%和5.5%。多变量回归分析表明，未怀孕的泌乳奶牛（调整优势比[aOR]=3.35；P=0.042）更有可能血清呈阳性。农场有流产史（aOR=5.71；P=0.026）以及牛群中奶牛数量较多（aOR=1.14；P<0.001）与牛群布鲁氏菌病血清阳性有关。
研究地区布鲁氏菌病的流行率较低。尽管如此，如果该病得不到控制，这种低流行率可能会上升。因此，建议在动物移动前进行检测、采取良好的养殖管理措施、卫生措施以及开展关于布鲁氏菌病的提高认识计划。
