Seroprevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Camel (Camelus dromedaries) Brucellosis in and Around Dire Dawa, Ethiopia

Abstract

A cross-sectional study of brucellosis was conducted from November 2010 to April 2011 to estimate seroprevalence and to assess potential risk factors of camel (Camelus dromedaries) in and around Dire Dawa, Ethiopia. Rose Bengal Palte test (RBPT) was used as a screening test to detect presence of Brucella antibodies and CFT to confirm those reactors by RBPT. Thirteen of 646 camels (2%) were seroreactive when tested by RBPT, out of which 10 (1.5%) were seropositive by CFT. Higher seroprevalence was observed in female and in adult camels with seroprevalence of 1.7 and 1.8% than seroprevalence of 1.4 and 0.7% observed in male and young camels, respectively. However, there was no ststistically significant difference (P < 0.05) in seroprevalence of brucellosis between both groups. Higher seroprevalence of Brucella (38.5%) was observed in adult female camels which had history of reproductive problems [abortion, still birth and retained fetal membrane (RFM)] with statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) compared to that of adult female camels which had no history of reproductive problems. Of camels which had these reproductive problems, highest seroprevalence (43%) was observed in camelse which had history of abortion. In conclusion, this level of seroprevalence is enough to be a potential hazard for public health in the study area, therefore, the public especially camel producers should be aware of camels as source of brucellosis.