Kalambhe Deepali Gopal, Sundar Brindha, Bedi Jasbir Singh
Department of Veterinary Public Healths and Epidemiology, Centre for One Health, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.
Vet World. 2025 Apr;18(4):819-826. doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2025.819-826. Epub 2025 Apr 19.
Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease that remains underdiagnosed in humans due to its non-specific clinical presentations. Punjab, India, is particularly vulnerable to brucellosis due to its high-density livestock farming. This study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of brucellosis in individuals presenting with non-specific clinical symptoms.
A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Centre for One Health, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, from January 2021 to December 2021. A total of 137 serum samples were collected from individuals either self-referred or physician-referred for brucellosis testing. The samples were screened using the rose Bengal plate test (RBPT) and confirmed with the standard tube agglutination test (STAT). Data on demographics, symptoms, and occupational exposure were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.
Overall, 17.52% (24/137) of individuals tested positive using STAT, with antibody titers ranging from 80 IU/mL to >2560 IU/mL. Seropositivity was higher in males (20.83%) than in females (9.77%). The highest seropositivity (42.9%) was observed in individuals aged 71-80 years. Among symptomatic individuals (n = 92), fever was the most common symptom (n = 79), followed by joint pain (n = 13). However, 15.6% of asymptomatic individuals also tested positive. No significant association was found between symptoms and seropositivity (p > 0.05). In addition, self-referred individuals (24.1%) had a higher seropositivity rate compared to physician-referred cases (12.7%). Among occupationally exposed individuals, veterinary officers showed the highest seropositivity.
The study highlights a considerable seroprevalence of brucellosis among various symptomatic and among asymptomatic individuals. Given its non-specific clinical manifestations, routine serological screening is recommended, especially for high-risk groups. A One Health approach integrating human and animal health surveillance is crucial for effective disease control.
布鲁氏菌病是一种人畜共患病，因其临床表现不具特异性，在人类中仍未得到充分诊断。印度旁遮普邦由于其高密度的畜牧业养殖，特别容易感染布鲁氏菌病。本研究旨在估计出现非特异性临床症状的个体中布鲁氏菌病的血清阳性率。
于2021年1月至2021年12月在卢迪亚纳的古鲁·安加德·德夫兽医与动物科学大学的“同一健康”中心开展了一项横断面研究。共收集了137份血清样本，这些样本来自自我转诊或医生转诊进行布鲁氏菌病检测的个体。样本采用玫瑰红平板试验（RBPT）进行筛查，并用标准试管凝集试验（STAT）进行确认。使用SPSS 26.0版本对人口统计学、症状和职业暴露数据进行分析，设定统计学显著性为p < 0.05。
总体而言，使用STAT检测呈阳性的个体占17.52%（24/137），抗体滴度范围为80 IU/mL至>2560 IU/mL。男性的血清阳性率（20.83%）高于女性（9.77%）。在71 - 80岁的个体中观察到最高的血清阳性率（42.9%）。在有症状的个体（n = 9）中，发热是最常见的症状（n = 79），其次是关节疼痛（n = 13）。然而，15.6%的无症状个体检测也呈阳性。症状与血清阳性之间未发现显著关联（p > 0.05）。此外，自我转诊的个体（24.1%）的血清阳性率高于医生转诊的病例（12.7%）。在职业暴露个体中，兽医官员的血清阳性率最高。
该研究突出了布鲁氏菌病在各种有症状和无症状个体中的相当高的血清阳性率。鉴于其非特异性临床表现，建议进行常规血清学筛查，尤其是针对高危人群。整合人类和动物健康监测的“同一健康”方法对于有效控制疾病至关重要。
