SLAUGHTERHOUSE PREVALENCE AND DETERMINANTS OF BRUCELLOSIS IN SHEEP AND GOATS OF SYLHET METROPOLITAN CITY

Abstract

Brucellosis is consistently ranked among the most economically important zoonosis globally. It is a ‗multiple burdens‘ disease with economic impacts attributable to human, livestock and wildlife disease. Brucellosis has a great impact on the productive, reproductive performance and economic significance. The disease is considered as an endemic disease in different countries of Asia including Bangladesh. Previous literature showed that no specific study was carried out on slaughterhouse prevalence of brucellosis in small ruminant of Sylhet Metropolitan city. Therefore, a cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the prevalence of brucellosis and determinants associated with sero-positivity in slaughter house in Sylhet Metropolitan city. A total 600 sera (300 from sheep and 300 from goats) and data on biologically plausible risk factors from 24 slaughterhouses with their spatial locations were collected from different wards and mahallas of Sylhet Metropolitan city by random sampling. The sera were tested with Rose Bengal Brucella antigen test (RBT), Brucella abortus plate agglutination test (BPAT) and Serum Agglutination Test (SAT) to find out the sero-positivitity. A sample was considered to be positive if any one of these three tests showed positive reaction. Out of 600 individual animal serum samples 8, 20 and 0 were identified positive to brucellosis in RBT, SAT and BPAT, respectively. The overall prevalence of brucellosis in slaughtered small ruminants was estimated as 3.67 % (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 2.44%-5.49%). Prevalence was relatively higher in goats (4.33%; 95% CI: (2.55%-7.27%) than sheep (3.00%; 95% CI: 1.59%-5.60%). Area wise prevalence estimation shows that the highest prevalence was recorded in Shibganj 10.25% (n=4/39) in goat and in Mirabazar, Madina market and Bandor bazar 5.13% (n=2/39) in sheep. Prevalence was significantly higher in females, older animals, animals with long laiarge time than in males, younger animals and animals with shorter laiarge time. From multivariable logistic regression analysis it was determined that the female goats and goats with shorter lairage time were at higher risk (Odds Ratio (OR); 8.51and 6.08, respectively) than male goats and goats with shorter lairage time. In case of sheep only lairage time was the significant variable. In the overall determinant analysis gender, age and lairage time were identified as the determinants of brucellosis in slaughtered small ruminants. The prevalence was quite similar with the other previous studies in different regions in Bangladesh. To reduce the economic losses and public health impact of the disease, control and eradication of brucellosis in small ruminants should be designed at the national level.