Case-control Study on Risk Factors Associated with Brucellosis in Aborted Breeding Goats in Jimma Zone, Ethiopia

Dereje Tulu, Abiy Gojam and Benti Deresa

Background and Objective: Brucellosis is a bacterial disease of major socioeconomic and public health importance and it is one of the major causes of abortion in goats worldwide. The objective of the study is to evaluate the risk factors associated with brucellosis in aborted breeding goats. Materials and Methods: A case-control study was conducted to investigate brucellosis as a cause of abortion and associated risk factors in breeding goats of the Jimma zone, Ethiopia. During the study period, 134 cases and 268 controls were selected to evaluate and compare the presence of Brucella antibody between cases and controls. The existence of Brucella antibodies in serum samples first tested by the Rose Bengal Plate test, then all positive samples confirmed using a complement fixation test. Results: An overall of 6.47% seroprevalence of brucellosis was recorded in the study areas. Antibody against Brucella organism was higher in cases (10.45%) than controls (4.48%) with statistically significant variation (p<0.05). This study showed that goats from a mixed species (goat with cattle and/ sheep) were more likely to be Brucella seropositivity than those with no contact with cattle and/sheep (p<0.05, OR = 2.3). Similarly, breeding goat from large flock size (p<0.05, OR = 2.8) and lowland (p<0.05, OR = 2.7) were also found to be at higher risk of harboring Brucella infection. Conclusion: Hence, it is important to conduct applicable control methods, creating public awareness on the transmission of brucellosis and further study to identify the specific cause of abortion in goats was suggested.

View Fulltext Back