Incidence of Brucella infection in various livestock species raised under the pastoral production system in Isiolo County, Kenya

Background: We implemented a longitudinal study to determine the incidence of Brucella infection in cattle, camels, sheep and goats that were being raised in a pastoral area in Isiolo County, Kenya. An initial cross-sectional survey was implemented to identify unexposed animals for follow up; that s...

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Main Authors: Njeru, Josiah, Nthiwa, Daniel, Akoko, James M., Oyas, H., Bett, Bernard K.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Springer 2021
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/115845
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author Njeru, Josiah
Nthiwa, Daniel
Akoko, James M.
Oyas, H.
Bett, Bernard K.
author_browse Akoko, James M.
Bett, Bernard K.
Njeru, Josiah
Nthiwa, Daniel
Oyas, H.
author_facet Njeru, Josiah
Nthiwa, Daniel
Akoko, James M.
Oyas, H.
Bett, Bernard K.
author_sort Njeru, Josiah
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Background: We implemented a longitudinal study to determine the incidence of Brucella infection in cattle, camels, sheep and goats that were being raised in a pastoral area in Isiolo County, Kenya. An initial cross-sectional survey was implemented to identify unexposed animals for follow up; that survey used 141 camels, 216 cattle, 208 sheep and 161 goats. Sera from these animals were screened for Brucella spp. using the Rose Bengal Plate test (RBPT), a modified RBPT, and an indirect multispecies Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (iELISA). Results of RBPT and iELISA were interpreted in parallel to determine seroprevalence. A total of 30 camels, 31 cattle, 22 sheep and 32 goats that were seronegative by all the above tests were recruited in a subsequent longitudinal study for follow up. These animals were followed for 12 months and tested for anti-Brucella antibodies using iELISA. Seroconversion among these animals was defined by a positive iELISA test following a negative iELISA result in the previous sampling period. All seropositive samples were further tested using real-time PCR-based assays to identify Brucella species. These analyses targeted the alkB and BMEI1162 genes for B. abortus, and B. melitensis, respectively. Data from the longitudinal study were analysed using Cox proportional hazards model that accounted for within-herds clustering of Brucella infections. Results: The overall incidence rate of Brucella infection was 0.024 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.014-0.037) cases per animal-months at risk. Brucella infection incidence in camels, cattle, goats and sheep were 0.053 (0.022-0.104), 0.028 (0.010-0.061), 0.013 (0.003-0.036) and 0.006 (0.0002-0.034) cases per animal-month at risk, respectively. The incidence rate of Brucella infection among females and males were 0.020 (0.009-0.036) and 0.016 (0.004-0.091), respectively. Real-time PCR analyses showed that B. abortus was more prevalent than B. melitensis in the area. Results of multivariable Cox regression analysis identified species (camels and cattle) as an important predictor of Brucella spp. exposure in animals. Conclusions: This study estimated an overall brucellosis incidence of 0.024 cases per animal-months at risk with camels and cattle having higher incidence than sheep and goats. These results will inform surveillance studies in the area.
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spelling CGSpace1158452025-08-15T13:22:06Z Incidence of Brucella infection in various livestock species raised under the pastoral production system in Isiolo County, Kenya Njeru, Josiah Nthiwa, Daniel Akoko, James M. Oyas, H. Bett, Bernard K. brucella livestock pastoralism zoonoses Background: We implemented a longitudinal study to determine the incidence of Brucella infection in cattle, camels, sheep and goats that were being raised in a pastoral area in Isiolo County, Kenya. An initial cross-sectional survey was implemented to identify unexposed animals for follow up; that survey used 141 camels, 216 cattle, 208 sheep and 161 goats. Sera from these animals were screened for Brucella spp. using the Rose Bengal Plate test (RBPT), a modified RBPT, and an indirect multispecies Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (iELISA). Results of RBPT and iELISA were interpreted in parallel to determine seroprevalence. A total of 30 camels, 31 cattle, 22 sheep and 32 goats that were seronegative by all the above tests were recruited in a subsequent longitudinal study for follow up. These animals were followed for 12 months and tested for anti-Brucella antibodies using iELISA. Seroconversion among these animals was defined by a positive iELISA test following a negative iELISA result in the previous sampling period. All seropositive samples were further tested using real-time PCR-based assays to identify Brucella species. These analyses targeted the alkB and BMEI1162 genes for B. abortus, and B. melitensis, respectively. Data from the longitudinal study were analysed using Cox proportional hazards model that accounted for within-herds clustering of Brucella infections. Results: The overall incidence rate of Brucella infection was 0.024 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.014-0.037) cases per animal-months at risk. Brucella infection incidence in camels, cattle, goats and sheep were 0.053 (0.022-0.104), 0.028 (0.010-0.061), 0.013 (0.003-0.036) and 0.006 (0.0002-0.034) cases per animal-month at risk, respectively. The incidence rate of Brucella infection among females and males were 0.020 (0.009-0.036) and 0.016 (0.004-0.091), respectively. Real-time PCR analyses showed that B. abortus was more prevalent than B. melitensis in the area. Results of multivariable Cox regression analysis identified species (camels and cattle) as an important predictor of Brucella spp. exposure in animals. Conclusions: This study estimated an overall brucellosis incidence of 0.024 cases per animal-months at risk with camels and cattle having higher incidence than sheep and goats. These results will inform surveillance studies in the area. 2021-12 2021-11-05T09:28:44Z 2021-11-05T09:28:44Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/115845 en Open Access Springer Njeru, J., Nthiwa, D., Akoko, J., Oyas, H. and Bett, B. 2021. Incidence of Brucella infection in various livestock species raised under the pastoral production system in Isiolo County, Kenya. BMC Veterinary Research 17: 342.
spellingShingle brucella
livestock
pastoralism
zoonoses
Njeru, Josiah
Nthiwa, Daniel
Akoko, James M.
Oyas, H.
Bett, Bernard K.
Incidence of Brucella infection in various livestock species raised under the pastoral production system in Isiolo County, Kenya
title Incidence of Brucella infection in various livestock species raised under the pastoral production system in Isiolo County, Kenya
title_full Incidence of Brucella infection in various livestock species raised under the pastoral production system in Isiolo County, Kenya
title_fullStr Incidence of Brucella infection in various livestock species raised under the pastoral production system in Isiolo County, Kenya
title_full_unstemmed Incidence of Brucella infection in various livestock species raised under the pastoral production system in Isiolo County, Kenya
title_short Incidence of Brucella infection in various livestock species raised under the pastoral production system in Isiolo County, Kenya
title_sort incidence of brucella infection in various livestock species raised under the pastoral production system in isiolo county kenya
topic brucella
livestock
pastoralism
zoonoses
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/115845
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