title: Seroprevalence survey of brucellosis among rural people in Mongolia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  After the transition from socialism to a market economy in 1990, human brucellosis re-emerged in Mongolia. The aim of our study was to estimate a representative seroprevalence of Brucella spp. and to determine risk factors for brucellosis seropositivity among rural people.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study with multistage random selection was conducted in eight provinces of Mongolia. Study participants were interviewed using a questionnaire to obtain their brucellosis history, current symptoms and likely risk factors. Blood samples were drawn to determine brucellosis seroprevalence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 2856 randomly selected rural people aged four to 90 years were enrolled in the study. The seroprevalence of Brucella spp. was 11.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 10.0-12.1), ranging between 2.3% and 22.6% in the eight provinces; 39.2% (n = 609) of nomadic camps had at least one seropositive participant. Risk factors associated with brucellosis seropositivity were being older than 45 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 6.9, 95% CI = 5.1-8.7) and being a veterinarian (AOR = 2.8, 95% CI = 1.5-5.0).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study confirms that human brucellosis seroprevalence among rural people in Mongolia is high. Human brucellosis can be effectively controlled if high-coverage livestock mass vaccination is implemented with a coverage survey after the vaccinations to ensure completeness. This mass vaccination should be accompanied by public awareness and educational programmes.
authors: National Centre for Communicable Diseases of Mongolia .
authors: Selenge
authors: S
authors: Tsend
authors: Animal Health Project of Swiss Development Agency in Mongolia .
authors: Zolzaya
authors: Z
authors: Baljinnyam
authors: National Centre for Communicable Diseases of Mongolia .
authors: Bujinlkham
authors: B
authors: Suuri
authors: National Centre for Communicable Diseases of Mongolia .
authors: Enkhbayar
authors: E
authors: Dashbal
authors: National University of Medicine, Mongolia .
authors: Baatarkhuu
authors: B
authors: Oidov
authors: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland .
authors: Felix
authors: F
authors: Roth
authors: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland .
authors: Jakob
authors: J
authors: Zinstag
authors: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland .
authors: Esther
authors: E
authors: Schelling
authors: National University of Medicine, Mongolia .
authors: Davaalkham
authors: D
authors: Dambadarjaa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D002002:Brucella / Q000276:immunology; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008986:Mongolia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial