Brucellosis

Brucellosis is one of the world'•s most widespread zoonosis. It is caused by gram-negative bacilli of the genus Brucella.It is a risk to those occupationally exposed to animals such as farmers, veterinarians, laboratorians and butchers and to the public through the consumption of contaminated unprocessed milk, milk products and meats.The epidemiology of Brucella infections involves complex mechanisms which vary according to the disease determinants. Previous studies in Kenya have reported a prevalence range of between 5% - 45% in livestock as well as over 20% in humans in selected regions1. Therefore, risk factors observed in a particular agro-ecological region cannot easily be extrapolated to another area with different ecological settings and husbandry practices. A strategy for brucellosis control would greatly benefit from detailed knowledge of local epidemiology. The available data on brucellosis is not adequate enough to inform an effective control process. Decision makers frequently apply different strategies according to the prevalence and epidemiology of the disease. People who interact with livestock on a regular basis are thought to be at an increased risk of contracting zoonoses including Brucellosis. Previous studies on Brucellosis have focused either on human or animal disease. The current study simultaneously investigated the linkage in sero-prevalence between humans and their animals within the same household at the same time.

Objective

We determined the sero-prevalence and risk factors for brucellosis in humans and their animals in Kajiado and Kiambu Counties of Kenya. We also examined the linkage between the sero-status of humans and that of their livestock.

One goal of the Biological Threat Reduction Program of the US Defense Threat Reduction Agency is the enhancement of surveillance of especially dangerous pathogens of both humans and animals within countries of the former Soviet Union. One of the diseases of interest to the program is brucellosis, which is a life-threatening condition and constitutes a major health and economic challenge around the world. This is also true for Uzbekistan (UZ), where brucellosis is endemic in a number of regions. In the Samarqand region of UZ, for example, studies have reported a 9.3%, and 3.6% seroprevalence for humans and farm animals respectively.The lack of awareness about brucellosis in at-risk populations, shepherds, veterinarians and people who handle raw milk, is believed to significantly contribute to the spread of disease from animals to humans. Here we suggest mechanisms to evaluate awareness about the disease and the impact of an educational intervention in at-risk groups.

Objective

To outline the mechanism of a pilot educational brucellosis prevention program among selected high- risk groups in an endemic region of Uzbekistan.

Livestock sector contributes more than 58% to agriculture-based economy of Pakistan. Diseases of socio-economic importance are posing an enormous pressure to the growth of this sector. Zoonotic diseases are generally neglected in wake of epizootics having epidemic potential. One Health is a multi-sectoral approach to control zoonotic diseases at animal level to mitigate risk of transfer to the humans and environment. Despite various control programs, zoonosis is known to cause public health emergencies at various regional and national levels. OIE declared brucellosis as a model bacterial disease to control zoonosis in developing countries. Genus Brucella is expanding with its discovery in various amphibian species and marine mammals and demands control efforts at various levels. Reporting of zoonosis is less than actual prevalence in third world countries like Pakistan where disease is considered endemic but no official data is available. In this study, brucellosis was used as a model disease to emphasize the significance of One Health.

Objective:

To detect the presence of brucella in serum samples of occupationally exposed human and animals by conventional screening methods. To perform epidemiosurvelliance of brucella molecular based tests including genus and species specific PCR. To check the brucella prevalence in occupationally exposed human.

Brucellosis, endemic in Armenia, is recognized as a significant public health challenge with a major economic burden. To address the regional threat of brucellosis for both animal health and public health, the œOne Health Surveillance of Brucellosis in Armenia” was initiated in December 2016. The project aims to develop scientifically sound strategies and policies for sustainable control of the disease.

Objective:

To understand the disease burden, we studied the epidemiological and clinical characteristics and associated costs for brucellosis patients hospitalized in Nork hospital in 2016.

Brucellosis is among the zoonotic diseases that continue to afflict man and animals in Uganda. The increase in the number of disease outbreaks in animals from 1990 to 2013 and the number of human patients diagnosed with brucellosis in private clinics and hospitals has placed the infection to be among the top re-emerging diseases in the country. Brucellosis infection in humans is non-specific and caused by direct or indirect contact with infected animals or their products. Brucellosis manifests as intermittent fever, headache, weakness, profuse sweating, chills, weight loss, generalized aching that may involve multiple organ systems in the body. In animals, Brucella organisms localize in the reproductive organs, causing abortions, decreased milk yields and temporary sterility. Its effects impact negatively to the sale value of the affected animals causing financial losses to the animal owners.

Objective:

To determine the seroprevalence of Brucellosis antibodies in cattle in 3 districts in South-western Uganda (Mbarara, Kiruhura and Bushenyi) and to determine the seroprevalence of Brucellosis among the cattle keepers on farms with cattle detected with brucellosis antibodies in the same districts and also to determine the level of awareness of Brucellosis disease among individuals that get in contact with livestock in the same districts.`