Seroprevalence of Brucellosis in Sheep and Humans in District Kohat, Pakistan

Abstract

Brucellosis is a bacterial disease and is caused by genus Brucella. It is highly prevalent\rzoonotic disease in developing countries including Pakistan. This study was conducted to determine\rthe prevalence of brucellosis in sheep and humans of district Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. For this\rpurpose, one hundred blood samples from each humans and sheep (50 each from both sexes) were\rrandomly collected at three different tehsils (Lachi, Seni Gumbat and Kohat) of district Kohat.\rThe serum samples were tested for presence of anti-Brucella antibodies by Rose Bengal Plate Test\r(RBPT) and Serum Agglutination Test (SAT). Moreover, a total of 50 milk samples were also collected\rfrom various sheep herds for subsequent conduction of milk ring test (MRT). The estimated\rprevalence of ovine brucellosis was 12.12%, 09% and 08.82% in Lachi, Seni Gumbat and Kohat,\rrespectively, with an overall prevalence of 10% in the district. Whereas, SAT and RBPT demonstrated\rthe prevalence as 7% and 6%, respectively, in humans. The results of current study validated\rthat brucellosis was widespread in district Kohat with a relatively higher prevalence being recorded\rin ewes and occupationally exposed women than their male counterparts. Furthermore, the prevalence\rof brucellosis was significantly higher in sheep and humans of Lachi and Seni Gumbat tehsils\ras compared to Kohat. Results of the current study may support the health care organizers to formulate\rsuitable control plans against Brucellosis.\rKeywords | Brucellosis, Prevalence, Sheep, Humans, Kohat