Prevalence of Brucellosis in Sheep and Goats in Dire District, Borana Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

The cross-sectional study was conducted in Dirre district in the four pastoral areas of Borona name, Harallo, Dda-Mega, Madacho, and Mana soda. Seroprevalence and the potential risk factors associated with shoat brucellosis in the study area were determined by using serological tests. Sera samples were collected from 237 unvaccinated and apparently healthy sheep and goats. The samples were examined serologically by the Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) for the first screening test and indirect ELISA for confirmation. All positive serum samples for RBPT were confirmed with indirect ELISA. Out of the total 237 samples examined serologically, 13% were screened to be positive for RBPT, and these positive samples on RBPT were retested with indirect ELISA and confirmed that 1.7% were positive as a brucellosis confirmation test. In conclusion, the current finding was slightly lower than the pooled seroprevalence estimate of brucellosis at the national level: 2.6% (95% CI: 2.2–3.0) in cattle, 4% (95% CI: 3.1–5.1) in goats, and 3% (95% CI: 2.3–

3.9) in sheep. From the samples taken from four pastoral associations, the highest sero-prevalence confirmation result by indirect ELISA was recorded in Mana-Soda pastoral association 4 (6.7%), which had a statistically significant difference from other pastoral associations under the current investigation with p value = 0.017 and χ2 = 12.003; Based on sex, Sheep and goat brucellosis sero-prevalence has no statistically significant difference among male and female animals with (P=based; χ2 = 1.441). Among sheep and goat species, the indirect ELISA confirmed result was 0% (4.3%), respectively, but there was no statistically significant difference seen between these two species (P value = 0.230) and (χ2 =1.441); based on age the prevalence was higher in the adult age group (1.8%) than in the young age group (0%) with no statistically significant difference among age groups (χ2=0.314; P value = 0.0575). The present study showed that brucellosis is more prevalent in goats than sheep and is also found in different pastoral associations, which is an indication of its endemic special distribution in the area, which needs a well-planned epidemiological study and routine testing in order to reduce its impact on reproduction and production of animals and to prevent its zoonotic transmission to humans dealing with their management and consuming their raw milk and meat.