SERO-EPIDEMIOLOGY OF BRUCELLOSIS IN SMALL RUMINANTS IN PLATEAU STATE

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Date
2009-01
Authors
BERTU, WILSON JAMES
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Abstract
A sero-epidemiological study of brucellosis in small ruminants (sheep and goats) was carried out in Plateau State to determine the status of the disease. A total of 1,347 serum samples from 851 goats and 496 sheep from nine Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state were tested for brucella antibodies using Rose Bengal Plate test (RBPT) and Serum Agglutination test (SAT). The result revealed brucellosis prevalence of 46(9.2%) by RBPT and 26(5.2%) by SAT in sheep and 86(10.1%) and 51(6.0%) by RBPT and SAT respectively in goats. The overall prevalence of brucellosis in sheep and goats in Plateau State 14.5% and 16.0% respectively. The prevalence varied from one LGA to another and between Sheep and Goats in each LGA. In goats, the highest prevalence (11.5%) was recorded in Jos North LGA while the lowest (1.7%) was in Shendam LGA by SAT. In Sheep, Quanpan LGA had the highest prevalence of 17.6% while Mangu LGA had the least prevalence of 1.1% also by SAT. The difference in prevalence between sheep and goats was not statistically significant, (P>0.05). Age specific prevalence of brucellosis in both sheep and goats exist (17.3% in adults) and (21.4% in young) but was not statistically significant (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in prevalence between male (13.8%) and female (15.7%) sheep, (P>0.05). There was however a significant difference in prevalence between male (13.8%) and female (18.9%) goats, (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in prevalence between the samples obtained from slaughtered animals (18.0%) and those from the field (17.0%), (P>0.05). The widespread brucellosis seroprevalence in Plateau state is of great economic and public health significance. There is the need to embark on control and eradication of small ruminant brucellosis in Plateau State. Culling of affected small ruminants and maintenance of good hygiene will be useful methods of control at this point in time. Isolation and characterization of Brucella species causing problems in small ruminants in Plateau State is suggested for further studies.
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A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT FOR THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE (M.Sc.) IN VETERINARY PUBLIC HEALTH AND PREVENTIVE MEDICINE. DEPARTMENT OF VETERINARY PUBLIC HEALTH AND PREVENTIVE MEDICINE, FACULTY OF VETERINARY MEDICINE AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA JANUARY, 2009
Keywords
SERO-EPIDEMIOLOGY,, BRUCELLOSIS,, SMALL,, RUMINANTS,, PLATEAU STATE
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