P8-08 Seroprevalence of Brucellosis, Isolation and Characterization of Brucella And Identification of the Associated Risk Factors in Small Ruminants with History of Abortion at Two Districts of South Omo Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

Brucellosis is one of the contagious neglected bacterial diseases of domestic and wild animals, caused bybacteria of the Genus Brucella, and distributed worldwide including Ethiopia. However, there was scarcityof epidemiological data on its occurrence in pastoral areas. A cross-sectional study was conducted fromSeptember 2018 to June 2019, to estimate the seroprevalence of brucellosis and isolate Brucella from smallruminants in two randomly selected pastoral districts, out of eight districts in South Omo Zone, Ethiopia. Apre-tested questionnaire was used to clarify the purpose. Blood samples were collected from a total of 124small ruminants with history of abortion for serological test. Subsequently, 30 vaginal swabs were inves-tigated from seropositive animals for Brucella isolation. All serum samples collected were screened sero-logically using the modified Rose Bengal Plate Test (mRBPT) and sera positive with mRBPT were confirmedwith Complement Fixation Test (CFT). An overall seroprevalence in small ruminants with history of abortionwas 21% (26/124; 95% CI: 0.14 - 0.28) using combined mRBPT and CFT. A multivariable logistic regressionanalysis revealed that risk factors considered in the study districts: species, history of abortion (OR: 0.28,95% CI: 0.18 - 0.43), and parity numbers (OR: 0.20, 95% CI: 0.059 - 0.72) were significantly associated withBrucella infection. Brucella was isolated from 5(16.7%) of the 30 samples cultured on Brucella SelectiveAgar. All isolates, 5(16.7%) were from vaginal swabs. The isolates were B. melitensis based on biochemical,and bacteriological culture test result, though further test is required at biovariant level. In conclusion, thepresent serological test showed that brucellosis is highly prevalent among aborted small ruminants in thestudy area. Moreover, the isolation of B. melitensis from aborted goats’ vaginal swabs may be consideredone of the confirmatory for the Brucella infection. Therefore, strategic control measures should be imple-mented, such as regular testing of breeding animals to reduce brucellosis is required to reduce its economicimpact and risk of zoonotic infection in the area.