SEROPREVALENCE OF BRUCELLA ANTIBODIES IN GOATS IN OJU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BENUE STATE, NIGERIA

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Date
2014-09
Authors
IJALE, Gabriel Ogbaji
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Abstract
In a study to determine the seroprevalence of Brucella antibodies in goats in Oju Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State, 241 blood samples for sera were collected from goats sold at the Ihiejwu goat market and from some communities within the LGA. Similarly, epidemiological factors for brucella infection in such goats were studied and risk factors to brucella infection among goats and goat owners were examined through the use of a structured questionnaire. The serum samples were subjected to Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and Indirect Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (iELISA) to determine the presence of Brucella antibodies. The RBPT gave a prevalence of 13.7% while the iELISA confirmed the presence of Brucella antibodies in 7.5% of the 241 sera tested. Based on age, 6.98% of the 43 goats below 12 months old were positive while 7.22% of the 97 goats between 13 - 36 months old were positive and 7.92% of the 101 goats above 36 months old were positive using the iELISA. Of the 49 male goats sampled, 6.12% were positive while 7.81% of the 192 female goats were positive with the iELISA. Breed-based prevalence rates gave 7.04% of the 213 Kano brown goats and 10.71% of the 28 West African dwarf breed with the iELISA. There was no significant association between brucella infection and age, sex or breed of goat sampled (p > 0.05). The questionnaire analysis revealed that none of the 33 goat owners vaccinated his/her goats against brucellosis and that 36% observed abortion and retained placenta in their goats. Nine percent of the owners admitted having joint pains while 3% each admitted having persistent fever and profuse sweating at night. Risk factors associated with brucellosis such as lack of vaccination and isolation of newly purchased goats, improper disposal of after-birth materials into the bush among others were established in this study. None of the owners could recognize brucellosis as a disease vii affecting their goats. From the study, it appeared that the goat owners were neither aware of brucellosis as a disease affecting their goats nor as a zoonosis. Awareness campaign on brucellosis should be carried out in Oju LGA and Benue State in general to enlighten goat owners on this important zoonosis. A National Policy on the control of brucellosis is recommended.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF A MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN VETERINARY PUBLIC HEALTH AND PREVENTIVE MEDICINE DEPARTMENT OF VETERINARY PUBLIC HEALTH AND PREVENTIVE MEDICINE, FACULTY OF VETERINARY MEDICINE AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA NIGERIA SEPTEMBER, 2014
Keywords
SEROPREVALENCE,, BRUCELLA ANTIBODIES,, GOATS,, OJU,, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, BENUE STATE,, NIGERIA.
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