Sero-Prevalence of Small Ruminant Brucellosis in Three Selected Districts of Somali Region, Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted from November, 2011 to March, 2012 in three selected districts of Jijiga zone, Somali region, Ethiopia, aimed at determining the sero-prevalence and to identify potential risk factors of small ruminant Brucellosis. A total of 291 serum samples (100 from sheep and 191 from goats) were collected from extensive management system with no history of vaccination. All serum samples were initially screened by RBPT and positive reactors to RBPT were further tested by CFT for confirmation. Accordingly, the overall prevalence of Brucellosis in small ruminants was 1.37% (4/291). Rose Bengal Plate Test detected 1.72% (5/291) of the samples as sero-positive. Up on further testing by CFT only 1.37% (4/291) was positive. Comparison of seroprevalence of small ruminant Brucellosis was carried out for different age, species, animal origin and sex groups. Sero-prevalence was higher in male compared to female. Brucellosis was also detected in all three selected districts of the region. Nevertheless, no statistically significance difference of small ruminant Brucellosis was observed among species, sex, age groups as well as animal origin (P>0.05). The result of the present study revealed that the seroprevalence of small ruminant Brucellosis in the study area was very low. However, the existence of the disease in the study area has possible risk of spread in the future. Accordingly, elimination of positive seroreactors has been recommended to control the spread of Brucellosis in these species of animals.