Seroprevalence of bovine brucellosis in smallholder farms in central Ethiopia (Wuchale-Jida district)

A cross-sectional study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of bovine brucellosis on 1136 cattle and to assess risk factors that could promote its transmission to man in 111 smallholder farms in central Ethiopia (Wuchale-Jida district) using questionnaire, Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and Complement Fixation Test (CFT). Using CFT, herd and individual animal prevalences were 45.9% (51/111) and 11.0% (125/1136) respectively while using RBPT, herd and individual animal seroprevalences were 46.8% (52/111) and 12.5% (142/1136) respectively. Both univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses showed that animals above 5 years of age and females presented higher risk for brucellosis than those below 5 years old and males (OR = 15.0 and 8.2 respectively, p<0.001). In contrast, risk of seropositivity was independent of the breed, the herd size, the body condition and the village of origin of the animals. Brucellosis seropositivity was observed in 53.7% of the herds with report of abortion (n = 54) and in 38.6% of the herds without abortion report (n = 57) with no statistically significant difference (P>0.05). Eighty-five percent (n = 111) of the households handled aborted foetuses and afterbirths with bare hands and 78% of the owners with infected herds (40/51) usually drank raw milk. In conclusion, bovine brucellosis was prevalent in the study district, and its prevalence was affected by age and sex. On top of this, cattle owners handle infected materials unsafely and consume milk from potentially infected cows.