Occupational Exposure Assessment and Seroprevalence of Brucella Specific Antibodies Among Veterinarians in the Northern Palestine

Abstract

Background: Brucellosis is one of the most popular zoonosis in the world caused by bacteria belonging to the genus Brucella. The disease is considered an occupational risk to persons dealing with animals and animal products. Brucellosis is endemic in livestock in Palestine. Yet, few studies investigated human brucellosis in Palestine. We aimed to estimate Brucella seropositivity among veterinary healthcare professionals in Northern Palestine, and to assess the associated risk factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in four governorates in the Northern West Bank (Jenin, Nablus, Qalqylia, and Tulkarm). A sample of 100 veterinarians was collected. Participants were interviewed using a structured questionnaire to assess risk factors. Blood samples were collected to be screened for the presence of anti-Brucella IgG using the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Results: The seroprevalence of Brucellosis by ELISA was 76%. Risk factors included working in the public sector, dealing with animals' vaccination, longer period of exposure, and advancing in age. Conclusions: Brucellosis is a high-risk occupational disease among veterinarians. Its prevalence rate among veterinary healthcare workers in the Northern West Bank, Palestine was very high compared to neighboring countries and internationally.