Seroprevalence of brucellosis in dairy animals and their owners in selected sites, central highlands of Ethiopia

A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2019 to May 2020 to determine the seroprevalence and identify potential risk factors of brucellosis in dairy cows and owners. Purposive sampling was performed in the respective farms and kebeles to screen recent cases of abortion. The overall seroprevalence of bovine and human brucellosis was 0.61% (95%CI:0.016-2.09) and 1.21% (95%CI:0.032-4.27) respectively using combined RBPT and CFT tests. Late stage of abortion (OR = 14.74, p = 0.0002), retained fetal membrane (OR = 32.74, p = 0.006), market-based stock replacement (OR = 16.55, p = 0.002), and presence of parturition pen (OR = 11.511, p = 0.027) was found to be significantly associated with seropositivity for Brucella infection in dairy cattle. Human housing (OR = 1.8, p = 0.002), contact with aborted fetus (OR = 21.19, p = 0.017), and drinking raw milk from aborted (OR = 5.72, 0.019) and retained fetal membrane (OR = 4.22, p = 0.029) cows all had a significant influence on human brucellosis seropositivity. A structured interview question was administered to 284 respondents. Accordingly, most respondents had no knowledge of bovine brucellosis and their zoonotic effects (93.3%) in contrast most of them drink raw milk. Implementation of a test and slaughter strategy with compensation is recommended with this low prevalence. In the case of human brucellosis, implementing one health approach framework should be practiced.

Automated summary

A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence and identify risk factors of brucellosis in dairy cows and owners. The results showed an overall seroprevalence of 0.61% for bovine brucellosis and 1.21% for human brucellosis. Risk factors such as late stage of abortion, retained fetal membrane, market-based stock replacement, and presence of parturition pen were significantly associated with seropositivity in dairy cattle. For human brucellosis, risk factors included human housing, contact with aborted fetus, and drinking raw milk from infected cows.