Serological Screening of Brucellosis in Small Ruminant Flocks of Somali Regional State.

Abstract

Serological survey of small ruminant brucellosis was performed in seven districts of Ethiopian Somali Regional State from November 2016 to April 2018. Sera were extracted from 552 goat and 278 sheep jugular whole blood samples to screen for Brucella antibodies using commercial. Rose Bengal Test (RBT) assay kits. The animals belonged to Jigjiga (261), Gursum (163), Kebri-beyah (102), Awebere (100), Harshin (97), Shinile (57) and Dega-habur(50) district flocks. RBT Brucella sero-prevalence was contrasted in relation to species, sex, age group and source district of small ruminants. Overall, 11(1.325 %) samples tested RBT Brucella sero-positive. All RBT sero-positive sera belonged to mature small ruminants (p < 0.05) and including 10 females (p < 0.05). RBT Brucella sero-positivity was relatively higher (p < 0.1) in goats 10 (1.8 %) than in sheep 1 (0.4 %). Goat RBT Brucella sero-positivity was higher (p < 0.05) in Harshin (7.8 %) followed by Gursum (2.5 %), Awebere (1.7 %) and Jigjiga (0.6 %). Findings suggest elevated natural Brucella infection
exposure in Harshin pastoral doe flocks. Considering frequent row milk consumption trends plus lower hygienic practices in such areas, further studies are needed to accurately estimate prevalence, and risk factors of Brucella melitensis infection in all major food animal herds including related zoonotic transmission risks in Somali region.