Bovine brucellosis seroprevalence, farmers’ awareness, practices and animal health extension services inputs in Mpwapwa district, Tanzania

Abstract

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease caused by gram negative cocobacillus bacteria of the genus Brucella. In cattle, the disease is caused by Brucella abortus. One of the main symptoms of brucellosis is the induction of abortion in the late term of gestation and first trimester in humans, drop in milk production resulting in economic and public health. Livestock is a key agricultural sub sector in Tanzania, depended by over 80% of rural household and contribute 5.9% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and cattle contribute 75% of all livestock in the country. In Mpwapwa District (Dodoma region), livestock keeping is one of the major means of economic activities, contribute 45% of district GDP and has significant contribution to the poverty reduction and food security. This district had sporadic cases of abortions in cattle and fever of unknown origin human possible related to brucellosis. Therefore, this study was aimed to determine the current seroprevalence of brucellosis in this district where there is no history of vaccination against brucellosis. A total of 545 serum samples were collected from sexually active cows and heifers in extensive farming system to detect antibodies against Brucella abortus using Rose Bengal Plate test(RBPT) followed by competitive ELISA(cELISA). A questionnaire to assess knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) related to milk borne zoonosis (brucellosis) and efficiency of animal health extension services delivery was administered to 73 livestock keepers. Bovine brucellosis seroprevalence indicated that 57/545 (10.5%) cows tested were positive  reactors by RBPT as screening test of which 5/57 (0.92%) confirmed positive by cELISA. 45% of the farmers have experienced several abortions in their cows, 78% were not aware of milk born zoonosis, 43% drink raw milk, 7% eat uncooked meat and 91% are not aware of the zoonotic potential of raw milk consumption. As for animal health services delivery, only 52% of farmers had access to animal health extension services and 97% of farmers have never seen samples being taken from their animals for further laboratory analysis. The findings from this study suggest that both bovine and humans are at potential risk of contracting brucellosis because of the presence of the disease in cattle population, the habit of drinking raw milk, unawareness of the disease and its impact to humans and inadequate extension service delivery.

Keywords: Rose Bengal Plate test, Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), Knowledge and Attitude.