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Research article
Sero-epidemiology and associated risk factors of brucellosis among sheep and goat population in the south western Nepal: A comparative study
Tulsi Ram Gompo
Department of Livestock Services, Central Veterinary Laboratory
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0973-0187
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background
Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease caused by Brucella spp. In Nepal, the presence of brucellosis in small ruminants, namely sheep and goats, has impacted farmers' livelihood and the food safety of consumers. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Rupandehi district of Nepal during January to March 2020 to investigate the seroepidemiology and associated risk factors of brucellosis in the sheep and goat population. Altogether, 19 sheep and 60 goat farms in the district were visited. Owners were interviewed to get information on animals, including their management and movement patterns. Three hundred fifty-seven samples (80 sheep and 277 goat samples) were collected proportionately based on farm sizes. Each serum sample was tested with Rose Bengal Test and ELISA to estimate the seropositivity of brucellosis. Logistic regression was carried out to calculate corresponding odds ratios of each variable associated with detection of brucellosis.
Results
At the farm level, 31.6% (6/19; 95% CI: 12%, 54%) of sheep farms and 3.3% (2/60, 95% CI: 0.9%, 11.4 %) of goat farms were seropositive to brucellosis. Out of 80 sheep serum samples, 12 (15%; 95% CI: 8.79%-24.41%) and out of 277 goat serum samples, three (1.1%; 95% CI: 0.37%-3.14%) were seropositive to brucellosis. Age greater than 1.5 years (OR= 5.56, 95% CI: 1.39, 29.38; p = 0.02) and herd size of greater than 100 (OR= 4.74, 95% CI: 1.23, 20.32, p = 0.03) were identified as significant risk factors for seropositivity of brucellosis in the sheep population. While in the goat population, none of the variables was identified as a significant risk factor.
Conclusion
The study provides evidence that the older sheep and the sheep from the large herds were at higher risk of brucellosis. A control program should be put in place immediately in the sheep population because they may transmit infections to other livestock as they were regularly moved for grazing and selling purposes. Also, strict biosecurity measures should be implemented among pastoralists to prevent brucellosis transmission in them. We suggest further one health-based study to reveal the transmission dynamics of brucellosis between animals and humans.
Keywords
Brucellosis, zoonotic disease, Nepal, sheep and goat, livelihood, risk factors, one health approach
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Received 16 Dec, 2020
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 16 Dec, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 06 Dec, 2020
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On 29 Nov, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 19 Nov, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 19 Nov, 2020
Editor assigned
On 03 Nov, 2020
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On 03 Nov, 2020
Editor invited
On 03 Nov, 2020
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Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 28 Sep, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 24 Sep, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 03 Sep, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 02 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 14 Jul, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 06 Jul, 2020
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On 03 Jul, 2020
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On 01 Jul, 2020
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This preprint is under consideration at BMC Veterinary Research. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research article
Sero-epidemiology and associated risk factors of brucellosis among sheep and goat population in the south western Nepal: A comparative study
Tulsi Ram Gompo
Department of Livestock Services, Central Veterinary Laboratory
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0973-0187
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Under Review
Version 3
Posted 13 Jan, 2021
No community comments so far
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 14 Feb, 2021
Editor assigned
On 31 Dec, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 31 Dec, 2020
Editor invited
On 31 Dec, 2020
No comments provided
Review #2 received
Received 16 Dec, 2020
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 16 Dec, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 06 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 29 Nov, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 19 Nov, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 19 Nov, 2020
Editor assigned
On 03 Nov, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 03 Nov, 2020
Editor invited
On 03 Nov, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 28 Sep, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 24 Sep, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 03 Sep, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 02 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 14 Jul, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 06 Jul, 2020
Editor assigned
On 03 Jul, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 01 Jul, 2020
Editor invited
On 01 Jul, 2020
First submitted
On 24 Jun, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background
Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease caused by Brucella spp. In Nepal, the presence of brucellosis in small ruminants, namely sheep and goats, has impacted farmers' livelihood and the food safety of consumers. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Rupandehi district of Nepal during January to March 2020 to investigate the seroepidemiology and associated risk factors of brucellosis in the sheep and goat population. Altogether, 19 sheep and 60 goat farms in the district were visited. Owners were interviewed to get information on animals, including their management and movement patterns. Three hundred fifty-seven samples (80 sheep and 277 goat samples) were collected proportionately based on farm sizes. Each serum sample was tested with Rose Bengal Test and ELISA to estimate the seropositivity of brucellosis. Logistic regression was carried out to calculate corresponding odds ratios of each variable associated with detection of brucellosis.
Results
At the farm level, 31.6% (6/19; 95% CI: 12%, 54%) of sheep farms and 3.3% (2/60, 95% CI: 0.9%, 11.4 %) of goat farms were seropositive to brucellosis. Out of 80 sheep serum samples, 12 (15%; 95% CI: 8.79%-24.41%) and out of 277 goat serum samples, three (1.1%; 95% CI: 0.37%-3.14%) were seropositive to brucellosis. Age greater than 1.5 years (OR= 5.56, 95% CI: 1.39, 29.38; p = 0.02) and herd size of greater than 100 (OR= 4.74, 95% CI: 1.23, 20.32, p = 0.03) were identified as significant risk factors for seropositivity of brucellosis in the sheep population. While in the goat population, none of the variables was identified as a significant risk factor.
Conclusion
The study provides evidence that the older sheep and the sheep from the large herds were at higher risk of brucellosis. A control program should be put in place immediately in the sheep population because they may transmit infections to other livestock as they were regularly moved for grazing and selling purposes. Also, strict biosecurity measures should be implemented among pastoralists to prevent brucellosis transmission in them. We suggest further one health-based study to reveal the transmission dynamics of brucellosis between animals and humans.
Figure 1