Sileshi Betrearon, Gizaw Seifu, Merkeb Belay, Bekele Tadesse, Tadesse Wuletaw, Kezali Jafer, Tesfaye Endalu, Ayele Angefa
Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Science, Salale University, Fiche, Ethiopia.
School Pharmacy, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia.
PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2024 Dec 17;18(12):e0012715. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012715. eCollection 2024 Dec.
Brucellosis is a neglected zoonotic disease often contracted through contact with animals and consumption of unpasteurized dairy products. Despite being the most common cause of non-malarial acute febrile illness brucellosis is often misdiagnosed in healthcare setups. The global incidence of Brucella infection is reported to be over 2 million cases annually. In Ethiopia, there are varying reports on the prevalence of brucellosis, and just a few researches have been undertaken on the prevalence among febrile patients. Therefore, this study aimed to determine sero-prevalence of human brucellosis and associated factors among febrile patients attending Moyale Primary Hospital in southern Ethiopia.
Cross-sectional study was conducted on 293 febrile patients attending Moyale Primary Hospital. We used convenience sampling technique. Blood specimen was collected and screened for Brucella antibody using Rose-Bengal plate test and ELISA was used for confirmation of Brucella infection. We used a questionnaire to collect socio-demographic data and to assess associated factors (S1 Table). Bivariate and subsequent multivariable logistic regression was performed to explore associated factors with the prevalence of human brucellosis.
The sero-prevalence of human brucellosis in this study was 13% (95% CI: 9.5, 16.5). Majority of the study participants (58.7%) were rural dwellers; 54.6% were male and the age range was from 5 to 80 years (mean = 24.17, SD = ±15.9). Higher number of sero-prevalence was seen among rural residents (19.8%) and male participants (14.40%). Drinking unpasteurized camel milk (AOR = 11.62, 95% CI: 3.85, 17.13; P = 0.000) and rural residence (AOR = 7.21, 95% CI: 2.48, 15.90; P = 0.000) were significantly associated with brucellosis. Consumption of pasteurized milk was shown to have protective effect (AOR = 6.12, 95% CI: 1.26, 29.76; P = 0.025) against brucellosis.
The current study showed 13% point prevalence of human brucellosis among febrile patients attending Moyale Primary Hospital. Consuming unpasteurized milk, particularly unpasteurized camel milk, and rural residence was significantly associated with Brucella infection. Awareness creation about the zoonotic nature of brucellosis and the role of unpasteurized milk in the transmission of the disease is important to control human brucellosis.
布鲁氏菌病是一种被忽视的人畜共患病，通常通过与动物接触和食用未经过巴氏消毒的乳制品而感染。尽管布鲁氏菌病是非疟疾急性发热性疾病最常见的病因，但在医疗机构中常常被误诊。据报道，全球布鲁氏菌感染的发病率每年超过200万例。在埃塞俄比亚，关于布鲁氏菌病患病率的报道各不相同，而针对发热患者患病率的研究却很少。因此，本研究旨在确定埃塞俄比亚南部莫亚勒初级医院发热患者中人类布鲁氏菌病的血清阳性率及相关因素。
对莫亚勒初级医院的293名发热患者进行了横断面研究。我们采用了便利抽样技术。采集血液样本，使用玫瑰红平板试验筛查布鲁氏菌抗体，并采用酶联免疫吸附测定法（ELISA）确认布鲁氏菌感染。我们使用问卷收集社会人口统计学数据并评估相关因素（S1表）。进行双变量及后续多变量逻辑回归分析，以探讨与人类布鲁氏菌病患病率相关的因素。
本研究中人类布鲁氏菌病的血清阳性率为13%（95%置信区间：9.5，16.5）。大多数研究参与者（58.7%）为农村居民；54.6%为男性，年龄范围为5至80岁（平均 = 24.17，标准差 = ±15.9）。农村居民（19.8%）和男性参与者（14.40%）的血清阳性率较高。饮用未经过巴氏消毒的骆驼奶（比值比 = 11.62，95%置信区间：3.85，17.13；P = 0.000）和农村居住（比值比 = 7.21，95%置信区间：2.48，15.90；P = 0.000）与布鲁氏菌病显著相关。食用经过巴氏消毒的牛奶对布鲁氏菌病具有保护作用（比值比 = 6.12，95%置信区间：1.26，29.76；P = 0.025）。
本研究显示，在莫亚勒初级医院的发热患者中，人类布鲁氏菌病的现患率为13%。食用未经过巴氏消毒的牛奶，尤其是未经过巴氏消毒
