Seroprevalence of Small Ruminant Brucellosis and Its Effect on Reproduction in District Dadu, Pakistan

Authors

  • SAJAD ALI LAGHARI Department of theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Sakrand Pakistan
  • QUDRATULLAH KALWAR Department of theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Sakrand Pakistan
  • MUHAMMAD MOHSEN RAHIMOON Department of theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Sakrand Pakistan
  • ATTA MUHAMMAD MEMON Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Sakrand Pakistan
  • FAYAZ HUSSAIN BANGLANI Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Sakrand Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.57038/usjas.v9i02.7865

Abstract

Brucellosis is a contagious zoonotic disease caused by Brucella species, affecting domestic animals and humans. In small ruminants, mainly caused by Brucella melitensis and Brucella ovis, the disease leads to abortions, infertility, reduced milk yield, and significant economic losses. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and associated risk factors of brucellosis in sheep and goats in District Dadu, Sindh, Pakistan. A total of 400 blood samples (200 goats and 200 sheep) were randomly collected from animals with a history of abortion across four tehsils (Dadu, Johi, Khairpur Nathan Shah, and Mehar). Samples were screened using the Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and confirmed by ELISA. A structured questionnaire was used to assess potential risk factors. Overall seroprevalence was 6.5% (26/400), with slightly higher prevalence in goats (7.0%) than sheep (6.0%). Johi and Mehar tehsils showed the highest prevalence. Significant risk factors included poor biosecurity practices (p<0.0207), repeated abortions (p<0.0254), and introduction of new animals without quarantine (p<0.0213). Animals with reproductive disorders showed higher seropositivity, while no significant breed-wise differences were observed. The findings indicate a moderate prevalence of brucellosis in the study area, highlighting the need for improved biosecurity, awareness, and routine screening to reduce economic losses and zoonotic risk.

References

Ademosun, A. A. (1994). Constraints and prospects for small ruminant research and development in Africa. In Small Ruminant Research and Development in Africa. Proceedings of the 2nd Biennial Conference SRNET, AICC, Arusha, Tanzania (Vol. 7, pp. 1-6).

Asmare, K., Sibhat, B., Molla, W., Ayelet, G., Shiferaw, J., & Martine, A. D. (2013). The status of bovine brucellosis in Ethiopia with special emphasis on exotic and crossbred cattle in dairy and breeding farms. Acta Tropica, 126, 186–192.

Bala, S. R. (2013). Bacteriological and serological studies of brucellosis in sheep and goats in a research farm in Zaria, Nigeria [Master’s thesis, Ahmadu Bello University].

Cadmus, S. I. B., Ijagbone, I. F., Oputa, H. E., Adesokan, H. K., & Stack, J. A. (2006). Serological survey of brucellosis in livestock animals and workers in Ibadan, Nigeria. African Journal of Biomedical Research, 9(3), 163–168.

Corbel M.J., Beeching N.J.: (2004). Brucellosis, Chapter 141. Pp. 914–917. In: Harrison’s textbook of Internal Medicine, 16th ed.; McGraw-Hill, New York.

Corbel, M. J. (2006). Brucellosis in humans and animals. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO Press.

Dogo, R., Maikai, B., Musa, J., & Tizhe, J. (2016). Brucella prevalence in goats and farmers’ awareness and practices towards Brucella infection in Giwa area of Kaduna State, Nigeria. British Microbiology Research Journal, 16(3), 1–12.

Economic Survey of Pakistan, 2021-2022. Ministry of national food security and research. Government of Pakistan, Islamabad.

Gebremedhin, B., Hoekstra, D., Tegegne, A., Shiferaw, K. and Bogale, A., (2015). Factors determining household market participation in small ruminant production in the highlands of Ethiopia. LIVES Working Paper 2. Nairobi, Kenya: International Livestock Research Institute.

Glenn J. S., and Karen W. P. (2005). Veterinary Microbiology: Bacterial and Fungal agents of animal diseases; Elsevier Saunders. pp.200-203.

Gizaw S (2010) Sheep and goat production and marketing systems in Ethiopia: Characteristics and strategies for improvement (No. 23). ILRI (aka ILCA and ILRAD).

Godifa, H. Y. A. E. G., & Desta, G. G. D. (2010). Causes of Abortion and Prevalence of Brucellosis in Small Ruminant in Ethiopia. Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare. Vol.5, No.21, 2015.

Gul, S. T., & Khan, A. (2007). Epidemiology and epizootology of brucellosis: A review. Pakistan Veterinary Journal, 27(3), 145–151.

Gul, S. T., Khan, A., Ahmad, M., Rizvi, F., Shahzad, A., & Hussain, I. (2015). Epidemiology of brucellosis at different livestock farms in the Punjab, Pakistan. Pakistan Veterinary Journal, 35(3), 309–314.

Hussain, M. A., Rind, R., Adil, M., Khan, M., Farmanullah, S. A., Waheed, U., & Salim, M. (2014). Seroprevalence of brucellosis in sheep and humans in District Kohat, Pakistan. Advances in Animal and Veterinary Sciences, 2, 516–523.

Iqbal, Z., Jamil, H., Qureshi, Z. I., Saqib, M., Lodhi, L. A., Waqas, M. S., & Safdar, M. (2013). Seroprevalence of ovine brucellosis by modified Rose Bengal test and ELISA in Southern Punjab, Pakistan. Pakistan Veterinary Journal, 33(1), 2–5.

Jesse, F.F.A., Boorei, M.A., Chung, E.L.T., Wan-Nor, F., Lila, M.M., Norsidin, M.J., Isa, K.M., Amira, N.A., Maqbool, A., Odhah, M.N. and Abba, Y., (2020). A review on the potential effects of Mannheimia haemolytica and its immunogens on the female reproductive physiology and performance of small ruminants. Journal of Animal Health and Production. 8: 101-112.

Junaidu, A. U., Daneji, A. I., Salihu, M. D., Magaji, A. A., Tambuwal, F. M., Abubakar, M. B., & Nawawi, H. (2010). Sero prevalence of brucellosis in goat in Sokoto, Nigeria. Current Research Journal of Biological Sciences, 2(4), 275–277.

Kaltungo, B. Y., Saidu, S. N. A., Sackey, A. K. B., Salihu, M. D., & Danbirni, S. (2014). Serological evidence of brucellosis in goats in Kaduna North Senatorial District of Kaduna State, Nigeria. African Journal of Microbiology Research, 8(13), 1311–1314.

Kolachi, H. A., Abro, S. H., Kambhoh, A. A., Soomro, S. A., Kalhoro, N. H., & Soomro, A. A. (2024). Serological evidence of chlamydiosis, Q fever and brucellosis in District Dadu, Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Zoology, 1–8.

Matope, G., Bhebhe, E., Muma, J. B., Skjerve, E., & Djønne, B. (2010). Risk factors for Brucella spp. infection in goat flocks in the Mnene area of the Midlands Province, Zimbabwe. Veterinary Record, 167(5), 142–147.

Muma, J. B., Samui, K. L., Siamudaala, V. M., Oloya, J., Matope, G., & Munyeme, M. (2006).

Prevalence of brucellosis and its association with reproductive problems in cattle in the Western Province of Zambia. Veterinary Research Communications, 30(2), 113–120.

Muma, J. B., Samui, K. L., Siamudaala, V. M., Oloya, J., Matope, G., & Munyeme, M. (2007).

Prevalence of brucellosis and its association with reproductive problems in cattle in the Western Province of Zambia. Veterinary Research Communications, 30(2), 113–120.

Pandeya, Y. R., Joshi, D., & Shah, S. K. (2016). Seroprevalence of brucellosis in different animal species of Kailali District, Nepal. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 45(Suppl. 1), 306.

Rahimoon, M.M., Mirani, A.H., Sahito, J.K., Bhutto, A.L., Khoso, P.A., Laghari, R.A., Kaka, A., Aqeel, M. and Rahimmon, G.R., (2024). Brucellosis and its Diagnostic Techniques in Animals: a Comprehensive Review. Journal of Bioresource Management, 11(3), 15.

Rahman, M. S., Faruk, M. O., Her, M., Kim, J. Y., Kang, S. I., & Jung, S. C. (2011). Prevalence of brucellosis in ruminants in Bangladesh. Veterinární Medicína, 56(7), 379–385.

Saikia, G. K., Konch, P., Boro, A., Shome, R., & Das, H. R. S. (2019). Seroprevalence of caprine brucellosis in organised farms of Assam, India. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies, 7(1), 21–25.

Seleem, M. N., Boyle, S. M., & Sriranganathan, N. (2010). Brucellosis: a re-emerging zoonosis. Veterinary Microbiology, 140(3-4), 392–398.

Shafee, M., Ahmed, N., Razzaq, A., Rehman, F., & Yakoob, M. (2016). Seroprevalence of brucellosis in small ruminants in Turbat ‘Kech’, Balochistan. Lasbela University Journal of Science and Technology, 5, 86–89.

Shahzad, A. (2017). Molecular characterization and pathological studies of Brucella species in naturally infected animals [Doctoral dissertation, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad].

Shafy, N. M., Ahmed, B. S., Sarker, R. R., Millat, K. S. A., Hasan, M. T., Bhattacharjee, P. K.,

Chakrabartty, A., Paul, A., Sarker, M. A. S., Truong, T., & Rahman, M. S. (2016). Serological prevalence of ovine and caprine brucellosis in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 14(2), 209–213.

Sindh Province Report Livestock Census. (2006)

https://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/agriculture/publications/pakistan-livestock-cencus2006/SINDH%20Province%20Report%20Livestock%20Census%202006%20%28PDF%29.pdf

Tadesse, G. (2016). A meta-analysis of the prevalence of brucellosis in Ethiopia. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 48(5), 1103–1112.

Tedeschi, L. O., Nicholson, C. F., & Rich, E. (2011). Using System Dynamics modelling approach to develop management tools for animal production with emphasis on small ruminants. Small Ruminant Research, 98(1-3), 102-110.

Tijjani, A. O., Musa, H. I., Ousoumanou, O., & Akitota, O. O. (2009). Prevalence of brucellosis in food animals slaughtered at Damaturu abattoir, Yobe State. Sahel Journal of Veterinary Science, 8(1), 55–60.

Zahra, A., Mulema, A., Colverson, K., Odongo, D., and Rischkowsky, B. (2014). A review of Ethiopia small ruminant value chains from a gender perspective. Nairobi: ILRI and ICARDA. PP. 1-38.

Downloads

Published

2025-12-30

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 02 (2025): University of Sindh Journal of Animal Sciences (USJAS)

Section

Articles

License

papers are accepted on the understanding that the work has been submitted exclusively to the journal and has not been previously published. Authors will be supplied with copyright form, which must be completed and returned to the publisher. Papers will not be published until the signed copyright disclaimer has been received.

Kindly download the copyright for below and attach as a supplimentry file during article submission

Download copyright form here.