Sero-prevalence of brucellosis in occupationally exposed people in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
OBJECTIVE
Brucellosis is a Zoonosis, recognized worldwide as a serious public health hazard and economically significant disease. The etiologic agent of this disease is a bacterial species of the genus Brucella that causes undulant fever, sterility and other systemic illnesses in human. Thus, the aim of this study was to undertake seroepidemiological study of brucellosis on occupationally exposed persons in Addis Ababa abattoirs enterprise and different dairy farms.


METHODS
Three hundred thirty six human individuals were screened using Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and the sera were further subjected to 2- Mercapto Ethanol Test (2-MET). Simultaneously, survey was conducted in farms and slaughterhouse to investigate epidemiological factors.


RESULTS
An overall seroprevalence rate of 4.8% (16/336) was determined by taking RBPT+/2MET+ as confirmatory test (P < 0.05). Some of the risk factors contributing to the occurrence of the disease include occupation, gender, and unsafe handling of infected materials. Raw milk and meat consumption, lack of awareness and use of detergents were also found as important factors.


CONCLUSIONS
The seroprevalence of brucellosis is expected to be more in other areas of the Region, where there is high human-animal contact and high number of cattle population with a respective traditional system of animal rearing.
Kassahun
Jiksa
J
Infectious and Other Diseases Research Department, Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, P.O. Box 1242, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Yimer
Eshetu
E
Geyid
Abera
A
Abebe
Paulos
P
Newayeselassie
Bethlehem
B
Zewdie
Badeg
B
Beyene
Mekoro
M
Bekele
Abebe
A
D000003:Abattoirs; D000328:Adult; D000383:Agriculture; D000818:Animals; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003612:Dairying; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D015047:Zoonoses