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Participant's opinions regarding routes of infection of humans with Brucella spp. Where 1 is physical contact with infected animals, 2 is assisting in the parturition of infected animals, 3 is contact with foetuses or foetal membranes of infected animals, 4 is drinking raw milk from infected animals, 5 is consuming cheese made from milk of infected animals, 6 is consuming meat from infected animals and 7 is contact with infected people.
Source publication
Brucellosis is regarded as one of the major zoonotic infections worldwide. It was first reported in Egypt in 1939 and is now endemic, the predominate species of Brucella in cattle and buffalo in Egypt is B. melitensis. The aim of the study was to estimate seroprevalence of Brucella spp. in cattle and buffalo reared in households in an Egyptian vill...
Context in source publication
Context 1
... be transmitted to humans through physical contact with animals, 100% believed it can be transmitted through contact with foetuses or foetal membranes, 99 (92.5%) believed it can be transmitted through drinking con- taminated milk and no participants believed it could be transmitted via contact with infected humans (Figure 1). ...Similar publications
Brucellosis is considered as one of the major zoonotic infections worldwide. The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs) of livestock owners with regards to brucellosis and to estimate seroprevalence of brucellosis in cattle and their owners in households. A cross-sectional study was carried out from June to Aug...
Citations
... This finding is consistent with a previous study conducted in Eritrea 11 and is similar to another in Egypt. 27 The results are, however, in contrast to a study conducted in Jordan, 26 where nearly half of the respondents indicated that they wore gloves for protection. In Eritrea, this risky practice could be partly explained by the fact that participants cannot easily find such protective equipment in their vicinity. ...
Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease with worldwide distribution. In Eritrea, the status of the disease in occupationally exposed dairy farmers is unknown. The objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of brucellosis, level of knowledge, and risky practices of dairy cattle owners/workers in Maekel and Debub regions, Eritrea. A cross-sectional study was conducted between August 2021 and February 2022. A total of 416 dairy cattle owners and workers underwent blood collection and interview using a standardized questionnaire. Blood samples were tested using Rose Bengal Plate Test, and positive samples were confirmed using competitive ELISA. Variation in knowledge scores by sociodemographic factors and practices were explored statistically. The apparent and true seroprevalence was 1.2% (95% CI: 0.05–2.8%) and 1.4% (95% CI: 0.6–3.4%), respectively. Apparent seroprevalence was similar in Maekel (1.1%) and Debub (1.2%) regions. Nearly half of the participants (49.5%) had never heard of brucellosis before. Overall, brucellosis knowledge score was low (mean score: 6.53/20). Knowledge score was higher in participants from Maekel region ( P <0.001), older participants ( P = 0.035), those with higher educational attainment ( P = 0.001), and those with more years of experience working in dairy farming ( P = 0.001). Knowledge score was lower in farm workers compared with family members ( P = 0.016). No significant differences in knowledge score existed between participants who engaged in or did not engage in potential risky practices. In summary, the prevalence of brucellosis in dairy cattle owners/workers in Maekel and Debub regions, Eritrea, was low. Participants demonstrated limited knowledge of brucellosis and engaged in risky practices.
... In Italy, B. abortus affects buffalo and cattle, particularly in the southern regions (Borriello et al., 2013). Brucellosis is a common issue in Egypt (Holt et al., 2011). A growing number of countries in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Israel, and other Southern European nations are reporting cases of B. melitensis infection in cattle, which poses a serious concern (Refai, 2002). ...
One zoonotic infectious animal disease is brucellosis. The bacteria that cause brucellosis belong to the genus Brucella. Numerous animal and human species are affected by Brucellosis, with an estimated 500,000 human cases recorded annually worldwide. The occurrence of new areas of infection and the resurgence of infection in already infected areas indicate how dynamically Brucellosis is distributed throughout different geographic regions. Bacteria originate from the blood and are found in the reticuloendothelial system, the liver, the spleen, and numerous other locations, including the joints, kidneys, heart, and genital tract. Diagnosis of this disease can be done by Bacterial Isolation, Molecular tests, Modified acid-fast Stain, Rose Bengal Test (RBT), Milk Ring Test (MRT), Complement Fixation Test (CFT), Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), and Serum Agglutination Test (SAT). The primary sign of a B. abortus infection is infertility, which can result in abortion and the birth of a frail fetus that may go on to infect other animals. In humans, the main symptoms are acute febrile illness, with or without localization signs, and chronic infection. Female cattle have a greater risk of contracting Brucella disease. Human populations at high risk of contracting brucellosis include those who care for cattle, veterinarians, slaughterhouse employees, and butchers. Antibiotic treatment of brucellosis is often unsuccessful due to the intracellular survival of Brucella and its adaptability in macrophages. A 'One Health' strategy is necessary to control illnesses like brucellosis.
... Previous serological surveillance studies revealed the prevalence of the disease in small ruminants, cattle, buffalo, and camels as 6.51%, 1%, 1.84%, and 0.02%, respectively. The incidence rate of brucellosis in humans following the 2003 war was 5347 recorded cases, representing 22.7 cases/100,000 inhabitants [9]. The eradication of brucellosis in humans depends upon the eradication of brucellosis in susceptible animal species [10] and, in this framework, the isolation of Brucella strains circulating in a territory and their characterization from the genomic point of view is of utmost importance for the assessment of the epidemiological situation. ...
Citation: De Massis, F.; Ali, R.M.; Serrani, S.; Toro, M.; Sferrella, A.; D'Aurelio, N.; Janowicz, A.; Zilli, K.; Romualdi, T.; Felicioni, E.; et al. Genetic Diversity of Brucella melitensis Isolated from Domestic Ruminants in Iraq. Microorganisms 2024, 12, 475. Abstract: The control and eradication of brucellosis represents a critical objective for Veterinary and Health Authorities across several countries globally. Efficient surveillance programs play a pivotal role in detecting and managing outbreaks. Epidemiological investigations significantly benefit from standardized and efficient molecular typing techniques and analytical tools, enabling public health laboratories to identify the origin of outbreaks. This study aimed to sequence Brucella spp. strains isolated in Iraq from different ruminant species to verify their molecular epidemiological correlations and, above all, to shed a light on how these Iraqi isolates are positioned in the phylogenetic context of Brucella spp. The 35 isolates under study were from abortion, milk, placenta, and the fetal membranes of sheep, cattle, and buffalo. Genotyping involved various techniques: MLVA-16, Whole Genome Sequencing, MLST, and cgMLST. All the Iraqi isolates from our study clustered in MLVA-16 within the East Mediterranean clade, and all but one grouped together in the same branch of the MST tree. MST analysis showed the minimum distance of one allele between the studied isolates, except for one strain from buffalo, which was positioned farther away from the rest of the isolates. In cgMLST, the majority of strains grouped within a large cluster predominantly comprising genotypes from the Middle East. The application of different control measures in different territories based on molecular epidemiological studies would increase the chances of maximizing public health benefits and minimizing the spread of infection to disease-free or lower prevalence areas.
... The production, distribution, or manufacturing procedures are all potential sources of bacterial contamination in milk (Garedew et al., 2012). The consumption of milk and dairy products has been related to about 5% of human foodborne diseases (Holt et al., 2011). Enteropathogenic food-born Escherichia coli bacteria have been linked to severe, occasionally deadly diarrhea in children, and cases have been documented in developing nations (Mora et al., 2011). ...
Background
The pathogens Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica that caused substantial health problems and financial losses were believed to have originated primarily from Egypt’s dairy farms.
Aim
The purpose of this study was to ascertain the occurrence of E. coli and S. enterica in three large dairy farms located in the Egyptian governorate of Sharkia. Furthermore, biochemical and serological characteristics of the isolated isolates were described. Further analysis revealed that several E. coli serovars had the genes stx1, stx2, eaeA, and hylA, while invA, stn, and hilA genes were found in several S. enterica serotypes using a multi-plex PCR.
Methods
A total of 540 samples of fresh raw cow milk, water, feedstuffs, feces, (108 each), as well as swabs from feeders, milker hands and cattle crushes (36 each ), were gathered and analyzed.
Results
The recovery of E. coli from various sampling sources was shown to have an overall prevalence of 62.2% (336/540) in the results. Fecal samples had isolated S. enterica, with a frequency of 0.74% (4/540). The existence of various groups of serovars, such as O26, O44, O55, O78 and O111 for E. coli and Salmonella enteritidis, Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella inganda for S. enterica was revealed by serological identification of the two species. However, it was discovered that a number of E. coli serovars had much higher percentages of the eaeA and hylA genes as well as shiga-toxin types 1 and 2 (stx1 and stx2). The presence of the invA gene, a diagnostic marker for S. enterica was 100% across all serovars. Salmonella enteritidis possessed both the enterotoxin gene (stn) and the hyper-invasive locus gene (hilA). Salmonella typhimurium had the hilA gene, whereas S. inganda had the stn gene.
Conclusion
Escherichia coli and S. enterica recovered in this study have significant genetic risk factors for high pathogenicity and virulence, posing a real threat to dairy population productivity and health, which could spread to the general public through milk.
... Humans are likely to become infected with Brucella spp. through the consumption of raw milk and non-heat-treated dairy products or the invasion of the skin and/or mucous membranes during contact with infected animals and/or contaminated materials from infected animals [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. ...
... In livestock, available data suggested that the prevalence of brucellosis in large and small ruminants is increasing [18][19][20][21]. On the other hand, data for the prevalence and incidence of brucellosis in humans are scarce and most of which were hospital-based surveys that had some methodological limitations [8,16,22]. The percentage of positive cases of brucellosis among patients with Acute Febrile Illness (AFI) or cases with pyrexia of unknown origin (PUO) was ranged from 3% to 11% [8,22,23]. ...
... Based on our recent study, we assumed that a person living in a household that kept cattle and/or sheep may contact (directly/indirectly) with these animals and/or their excreta at least once per day [16]. Our survey results indicated that 83% and 15% of households kept cattle and sheep, respectively. ...
This study aimed to assess seroprevalence of brucellosis in ruminants and the risk of human exposure to Brucella species. A cross-sectional survey was performed in 546 randomly selected households in rural Nile Delta, Egypt. A questionnaire was administered to the household head to collect data about livestock management and risk factors for brucellosis. In addition, serum samples were collected from 699 cattle and 286 sheep for serological investigation against brucellosis. A quantitative exposure assessment model was developed to estimate the probability of human exposure to Brucella species via contact with ruminants and/or consumption of raw milk and home-made dairy products. The brucellosis seroprevalence in cattle and sheep was 13.87% and 10.84%, respectively. The mean annual probability of human exposure to Brucella spp. via contact with cattle (0.98) was the highest followed by the probability of exposure via consumption of home-made dairy products (0.96), processed from cattle milk. The quantitative exposure assessment model demonstrated that the current livestock owners' practices would increase the risk of human and livestock exposure to Brucella infection. In conclusion, contact with cattle and consumption of home-made dairy products were the main routes of human exposure to Brucella species in the rural Nile Delta. Educational campaigns for controlling brucellosis and other zoonoses shall target preferred information channels as field veterinarians. Such campaigns shall be supported by resources that would help disease management at the farm level, thus reducing human exposure.
... Similar to this fi nding, in the endemic areas of Egypt, livestock owners may sell animals that abort to the butcher and some livestock owners may sell animals in markets if they believe they are infected with brucellosis. This may increase the transmission of brucellosis, not only between households in the same village but also between villages and even larger geographical areas as animals purchased at a market can be moved without restriction to anywhere in the country [34]. ...
... In regard to the personnel assisting the cattle during delivery, less than half of the respondents (23.3%) responded that household members assist the cattle, whereas one-third (33.3%) of them contact veterinarians, and 43.3% responded that shepherds assist cattle during delivery (Table 4). Likewise, Holt, et al. [34] reported large numbers of respondents (94.4%) assisting their animals during delivery usually by pulling the calf out or removing fetal membranes. Therefore, there is a high risk of transmission of the pathogen between animals and from animals to humans through direct contact with contaminated materials such as fetal membranes and aborted fetuses [40]. ...
... In line with this study, poor knowledge scores had been reported in Tajikistan by Lindahl, et al. [33], northern Uganda by Nabirye, et al. [48], and Nigeria by Buhari, et al. [35]. However, Holt, et al. [34] in Egypt and Musallam, et al. [12] in Jordan reported good knowledge scoring of their study participants. Therefore, health education relating to zoonotic diseases including bovine brucellosis, targeting all groups of the community in general and people most exposed to livestock and livestock products should be given by the government and other concerned bodies such as NGOs, print and broadcast media communication channels. ...
Brucellosis is a contagious zoonotic disease transferred from sick animals to humans and endemic in Eastern Africa and other countries. The objective of this study was to assess the extent of the knowledge and attitudes relating to brucellosis at the human-animal interface and identify practice at the farm and household level that poses a risk for human infection at the study site. By cross-sectional study design, a total of 120 participants were involved in assessing Knowledge, Attitude, and practice (KAP) toward the disease. From the study, about 20% of respondents knew the disease, out of which 75% heard about it from a veterinary service. Nearly, 79% and 75% understood that the disease can be transmitted between cattle and from cattle to humans respectively. About 54.2% handle placental membranes and aborted fetuses with bare hands. Of the total respondents, 5.8% and 38.3% have had good knowledge and good practice scores respectively. Educational level, with illiterate less, knew, highly influences both knowledge (p = 0.01) and practice (p = 0.018) of the respondents. Males (p = 0.006) had a good practice, which was statistically significant. This indicates that an awareness creation campaign is important so as to equip the farmers in the study areas with knowledge of the disease and to change their malpractice in order to protect themselves from brucellosis.
... In contrast to this finding, a study in Uganda showed a high awareness of brucellosis among the community participants [21]. Similar results have been shown in Egypt where the majority of the farmers were aware of brucellosis which the authors explained by an endemic situation of brucellosis in the study area [30]. The low awareness of brucellosis in this study might be explained by lower community awareness about the disease in the study areas as compared to Egypt [31]. ...
... The majority of the respondents contacted a veterinarian if suspect an animal being sick. This is in line with findings from a study conducted in Egypt where most respondents would contact veterinarian if they suspected brucellosis infection among their livestock [30]. In the current study it was shown that participants who mainly consulted veterinarians regarding animal health issues were more likely to have heard of brucellosis compared to those who mainly consulted a family member or a friend. ...
Brucellosis is a bacterial disease caused by various Brucella species, which mainly infect cattle, swine, goats, sheep, and dogs. Humans generally acquire the disease through direct contact with infected animals, by eating or drinking contaminated animal products, or by inhaling airborne agents. The aim of this study is to assess the livestock farming communities` knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to brucellosis in the Ada`a Barga, Dandi, and Gindeberet districts of Oromia, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional survey was carried out from August 2022 to September 2022 using a structured questionnaire to investigate knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding brucellosis among the livestock farming community in the study areas. Out of 384 respondents, 111 (28.9%) indicated that they had heard of brucellosis previously and the majority (273, (71.1%) had not heard of it. Respondents with a lower level of education were less likely to have heard of brucellosis compared to those with a higher level of education (P = 0.003). Most respondents don't know that humans can be infected with brucellosis (70.3%), and only 29.7% know that humans can be infected with brucellosis (P = 0.001). The majority of the respondents (79.9%) needed information about brucellosis and preferred to receive it through training and via a veterinarian. About 36% of those who heard about brucellosis believe that any family members may be at risk of acquiring the disease. Concerning practices of brucellosis among respondents, 54.2% of the respondents wash their hands every time after milking their cows, and 24.5% respond that they wash their hands sometimes because there is no clean water and no soap. Therefore, awareness-raising and training programs on brucellosis causative agents, transmission, treatment, prevention, and control methods should be provided to the communities in the study districts.
... Raising cattle herds and goat herds together was characterized as significantly connected with herd seropositivity. This finding agrees with the research done in Ethiopia, Egypt, and Rwanda which confirmed mixing cattle and goat herds as a risk factor linked to seropositive herds of cattle (13,47,67). Furthermore, the findings in this study are in agreement with study findings published on the risk factors for bovine brucellosis in Uganda and Tanzania (68,69). ...
Caprine brucellosis, normally caused by Brucella melitensis in goats, is endemic in Rwanda. However, reliable data on caprine brucellosis in Rwanda is insufficient and data on the prevalence and risk factors linked with goats’ brucellosis in the district of Nyagatare is unknown. A cross-sectional study was conducted among herds of goats in six sectors of Nyagatare district ( n =102), to characterise factors at herd level associated with brucellosis seroprevalence in goats. Serum from goats was screened using both the indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA) and the Rose Bengal test (RBT). A tested systematic questionnaire was used to obtain data about major risk factors for brucellosis. Brucellosis seroprevalence was 6.8% and 10.7% on RBT and iELISA respectively. The overall seroprevalence was 6.8% on animal level and 16.6% on the herd level in series with RBT and iELISA. Mixing a herd of cattle and goats and history of abortions were the risk factors identified to be considerably linked with Brucella seropositive herd ( p < 0.05). This study confirmed that brucellosis is endemic in the area, and a one-health strategy for controlling and preventing brucellosis in the Nyagatare district is strongly recommended. The study recommends an awareness campaign to educate all livestock farmers on brucellosis, further studies are recommended to characterize the Brucella spp. in small ruminants in Rwanda and recommend appropriate control measures.
... This indicates the lack of relevant information to farmers and the gap of knowledge that exists about the best available technics for controlling the hazards found in manure before using it as a fertiliser. Therefore, educating those farmers might contribute to the change in beliefs and attitudes and promote the application of safer farming practices [76]. ...
Manure from bovine farms is commonly used as an organic fertiliser. However, if not properly managed, it can spread significant biological and chemical hazards, threatening both human and animal health. The effectiveness of risk control hugely relies on farmers’ knowledge regarding safe manure management and on the application of suitable management practices. This study aims to evaluate the knowledge and practices of Cypriot bovine farmers towards safer manure management, from its generation to its final use, in line with the One Health approach. Factors affecting farmers’ knowledge and applied practices are also investigated through a questionnaire survey. The questionnaire was developed and sent to all eligible bovine farmers in Cyprus (n = 353), and 30% (n = 105) of them returned the completed questionnaire. Results revealed there are some gaps in farmers’ knowledge. The use of manure for fertilising crops dominated. Only half of the farmers stored manure in appropriate facilities, with 28.5% of them using a dedicated area with cement floors and 21.5% utilising leakproof tanks. The majority (65.7%) stored manure for more than three months before its use as a fertiliser in a dried form. In multiple regression analysis, education level and farming purpose were significant determinants of farmer knowledge. In conclusion, Cypriot farmers’ knowledge must be reinforced to ensure proper manure management. The results highlight the importance of providing relevant training to farmers. Although the current practices partially decrease manure pathogens, interventions to promote the use of more effective treatment methods, such as biogas transformation and composting, would be beneficial.
... The results of the study are in agreement with the findings of Edao et al,27 who reported that most farm workers in the study areas handled parturition animals in an unhygienic manner, disposed of aborted fetuses in an open setting, and consumed raw milk frequently. Furthermore, similar results were reported by Holt et al.26 ...
Background:
A cross-sectional study was conducted in selected districts of Gamo zone, southern Ethiopia over a period of November 2019 and September 2020 to estimate seroprevalence and associated risk factors and assess knowledge and practices of smallholder farmers about bovine brucellosis. Two districts and four kebeles from each district were purposively selected, and individual animals were sampled using a simple random sampling technique. A total of 384 sera samples were collected, and concurrently, 236 dairy cattle owners were interviewed. The samples were tested for antibodies against Brucella using both Rose Bengal Plate test and Complement Fixation test following OIE standard protocol. Risk factors associated with bovine brucellosis were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regressions.
Results:
The survey result has shown that 95% and 97% of the small holder farmers did not know the cause and symptoms of bovine brucellosis, respectively, and the majority have engaged in risky practices. Eight (2.08%) of the collected serum samples were positive with screening test (RBT) and only six (1.5%) were positive with confirmatory test (CFT). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed a statistically significant association between herd sizes and the disease. The seropositivity of the disease is higher in small-sized herds followed by medium-sized herds.
Conclusion:
The seroprevalence of bovine brucellosis was found to be at a low percentage with confirmatory tests even if there was a presence of associated risk factors for the disease in the study area. Again, the results suggest that smallholder farmers have poor knowledge and risky practices, which expose them to the disease. Awareness creation about the disease is of paramount importance even if the prevalence was low in this serological study. The implementation of a test and slaughter program before the disease becomes widespread, along with the testing of new stock before introduction to the farms is recommended.
