The first outbreak of brucellosis in the region of Sabac

Abstract

Background/Aim. In Serbia brucellosis is a primary disease of the animals in the southern parts of the country. The aim of this study was to describe the first outbreak of human and animal brucellosis in the region of Sabac, Serbia. Methods. An epidemiological investigation was conducted to identify a source of outbreak and the ways of transmission of brucellosis infection in human population. A descriptive and analytical epidemiological methods (cohort study) were used. Additional data included monthly reports of the infectious diseases from the Institutes of Public Health and data from the Veterinary Specialistic Institute in Sabac. The serological tests for human brucellosis cases were performed in the Laboratory of the Military Medical Academy; laboratory confirmation of animal brucellosis cases was obtained from the reference laboratory of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Belgrade. Results. Twelve cases of brucellosis were recorded from February 9 to September 1, 2004. Total attack rate was 8.1% (7.5% of males, 14.2% of females). Relative risk (RR) of milk consumption was 8.9 (95% confidence interval: 1.63-13.38), and RR for direct contact with animals was 14 (95% confidence interval: 3.5-55.6). The prevalence of seropositive animals in 33 villages of the Macva region accounted for 0.8%. Regarding animal species, sheep were predominant - 264 (95.7%). Out of a total number of seropositive animals, ELISA results were positive in 228 (88.7%) of them. Conclusion. As contact epidemics generally last longer, it is probable that the implemented measures of outbreak control did reduce the length of their duration.Uvod/Cilj. Bruceloza je prvenstveno oboljenje zivotinja u juznom delu Srbije. Cilj ovog rada bio je da prikaze prvu epidemiju humane i animalne bruceloze na podrucju Sapca. Metode. Sprovedeno je epidemiolosko istrazivanje u cilju otkrivanja izvora i puteva prenosenja bruceloze u humanoj populaciji. Koriscen je deskriptivni i analiticki (kohortna studija) epidemioloski metod. Analizirane su mesecne prijave zaraznih bolesti Zavodu za javno zdravlje Sabac i Veterinarskom specijalistickom institutu u Sapcu. Seroloski test za humanu brucelozu radjen je na Vojnomedicinskoj akademiji, a potvrda animalne bruceloze na Veterinrskom fakultetu u Beogradu. Rezultati. Dvanaest slucajeva humane bruceloze otkriveno je u periodu od 9. februara do 1. septembra 2004. god. Stopa javljanja iznosila je 8,1% (7,5% kod muskaraca i 14,2% kod zena). Relativni rizik od konzumacije mleka iznosio je 8,9 (interval poverenja: 1,63-13,38), a za kontakt sa zivotinjama 14 (interval poverenja: 3,5-55,6). Prevalencija seropozitivnih zivotinja u 33 sela macvanskog regiona iznosila je 0,8%. Najvise je bilo obolelih ovaca - 264 (95,7%). Od ukupnog broja seropozitivnih zivotinja, ELISA test bio je pozitivan kod njih 228 (88,7%). Zakljucak. Iako kontaktne epidemije obicno traju dugo, primenjene mere suzbijanja verovatno su doprinele kracem trajanju ove epidemije.