Almuzaini Abdulaziz M, Aljohani Abdullah S M, Alajaji Ahmed I, Elbehiry Ayman, Abalkhail Adil, Almujaidel Abdulrahman, Aljarallah Sahar N, Sherif Hazem R, Marzouk Eman, Draz Abdelmaged A
Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Qassim University, 51452, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia.
Department of Medical Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Qassim University, 51452, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia.
AMB Express. 2025 Feb 7;15(1):22. doi: 10.1186/s13568-025-01822-8.
Brucellosis is a significant zoonotic disease caused by intracellular, gram-negative bacteria from the genus Brucella. Although camels are classified as secondary hosts for Brucella species, they are among the most susceptible and vulnerable animals to brucellosis, particularly Brucella abortus (B. abortus) and Brucella melitensis (B. melitensis). The present study aimed to investigate the epidemiology of camel brucellosis as a zoonotic disease by determining the seroprevalence of brucellosis in both camels and humans, assessing potential risk factors (e.g., age, size, and location), and conducting molecular characterization of Brucella spp. associated with abortion in camels. The Rose Bengal Test (RBT), Antigen Rapid Brucella Antibody Test (ARBT), indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (I-ELISA), and complement fixation test (CFT) were used to detect brucellosis in both camels and humans. Additionally, a molecular method using polymerase chain reaction was used as a confirmatory technique. A total of 625 camel serum samples and 100 human serum samples were collected in sterile vacuum tubes from various camel farms and individuals across different localities in the Al Qassim region. Additionally, samples from 10 confirmed Brucella-infected camels (including the uterus and supramammary lymph nodes) were analyzed. The results indicated that the overall prevalence of brucellosis in camel sera was 9.72%, as determined by RBT, and 8.16%, as determined by ARBT. In contrast, the overall prevalence of brucellosis in human sera from febrile patients was found to be 17% via RBT. Notably, 57.98% of camel sera that tested positive for Brucella antibodies via RBT were also positive according to I-ELISA and CFT. Furthermore, 42.1%, 70.58%, and 47.05% of human sera that were positive for Brucella antibodies as determined by RBT were also positive according to I-ELISA and CFT, respectively. The highest seropositivity for camel brucellosis was observed in female camels, particularly in the Unaizah area of the Qassim region and among the Homr breed. The prevalence of human brucellosis was highest among females and individuals who consumed raw milk. At the molecular level, B. melitensis biovar 3 was detected in the examined tissues. In conclusion, intervention measures are vital for reducing brucellosis in humans and camels. Public awareness campaigns should highlight the importance of protective clothing when handling aborted she-camels and the need to boil or pasteurize milk. Additionally, studies should differentiate between vaccinated and nonvaccinated camels, and standardizing serological tests for diagnosing brucellosis should be prioritized.
布鲁氏菌病是一种由布鲁氏菌属细胞内革兰氏阴性细菌引起的重要人畜共患病。虽然骆驼被归类为布鲁氏菌物种的次要宿主，但它们是最易感染布鲁氏菌病的动物之一，尤其易感染流产布鲁氏菌（B. abortus）和马尔他布鲁氏菌（B. melitensis）。本研究旨在通过确定骆驼和人类中布鲁氏菌病的血清阳性率、评估潜在风险因素（如年龄、体型和地点）以及对与骆驼流产相关的布鲁氏菌属进行分子特征分析，来调查骆驼布鲁氏菌病作为一种人畜共患病的流行病学情况。采用玫瑰红试验（RBT）、布鲁氏菌抗原快速抗体检测（ARBT）、间接酶联免疫吸附测定（I-ELISA）和补体结合试验（CFT）来检测骆驼和人类中的布鲁氏菌病。此外，使用聚合酶链反应的分子方法作为确证技术。从卡西姆地区不同地点的各个骆驼养殖场和个体中，用无菌真空管共采集了625份骆驼血清样本和100份人类血清样本。此外，还对10头确诊感染布鲁氏菌的骆驼（包括子宫和乳房上淋巴结）的样本进行了分析。结果表明，通过RBT测定，骆驼血清中布鲁氏菌病的总体患病率为9.72%，通过ARBT测定为8.16%。相比之下，通过RBT发现发热患者的人类血清中布鲁氏菌病的总体患病率为17%。值得注意的是，通过RBT检测布鲁氏菌抗体呈阳性的骆驼血清中，有57.98%根据I-ELISA和CFT检测也呈阳性。此外，根据RBT检测布鲁氏菌抗体呈阳性的人类血清中，分别有42.1%、70.58%和47.05%根据I-ELISA和CFT检测也呈阳性。骆驼布鲁氏菌病的血清阳性率在雌性骆驼中最高，尤其是在卡西姆地区的乌奈宰地区和霍尔姆品种中。人类布鲁氏菌病的患病率在女性和饮用生奶的个体中最高。在分子水平上，在所检查的组织中检测到了马尔他布鲁氏菌生物变种3。总之，干预措施对于减少人类和骆驼中的布鲁氏菌病至关重要。公众宣传活动应强调在处理流产母骆驼时防护服的重要性以及对牛奶进行煮沸或巴氏消毒的必要性。此外，研究应区分接种疫苗和未接种疫苗的骆驼，并且应优先对诊断布鲁氏菌病的血清学检测进行标准化。
