Prevalence of brucellosis among slaughter cattle in Bahr El Ghazal Region: Implications for spread in pastoral communities of South Sudan

Kankya C, Madut NA, Muleme J, Muwonge A, Godfroid J, Dhikusooka MT, Jubara A. Prevalence of brucellosis among slaughter cattle in Bahr El Ghazal Region: Implications for spread in pastoral communities of South Sudan. Adv Trop Med Pub Health Int. 2019; 9: 9 - 21.

ABSTRACT

Globally, brucellosis presents significant negative effects on both humans and animals; the problem being more grievous in rural pastoral communities. This disease is associated with significant reduction in animal productivity and thus affecting socioeconomic livelihoods of the farmers at the same time having potential for zoonotic transmission hence affecting the health status of those involved. Pastoralism in South Sudan contributes to a greater portion of the natives’ source of income and livelihood and yet the pastoralists have little knowledge on bovine brucellosis. In this study, the prevalence and factors associated with bovine brucellosis among cattle presented for slaughter in Bahr el Ghazal region were explored.  A total of 1,372 cattle brought to the slaughterhouses in Bahr el Ghazal were randomly selected and subsequently bled for sera from December 2015 to May 2016. This serum was screened for brucellosis using different tests that included Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and the Competitive Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (c-ELISA). Meta data on animal characteristics was captured alongside laboratory results, entered in to an Excel-2010 database and analyzed in SPS ver. 24.0 at 95% level of significance.  The overall prevalence of brucellosis in the study area was 16.5% (227/1372). Kuajok state had the highest prevalence (35.8%), Tonj (27.9%), Aweil(26.8%),and lowest in Wau (11.9%). The young animals aged 1-4yrs were more affected (15.8% ,p<0.006) as compared to the other age groups, and more males were presented for slaughter (54%) as compared to the females. The only factor significantly associated with brucellosis among the cattle brought for slaughtering in Bahr el Ghazal region was  age   (P<0.001). This study revealed that brucellosis is highly prevalent among cattle brought for slaughter in Bahr el Ghazal region posing a huge risk of spread to humans. Therefore, we strongly recommend for regular screening of animals in farms and prior to slaughter for human consumption in the region.

Key words:  Brucellosis, seroprevalence, risk, spread, South Sudan