title: Brucellosis in Sub-Saharan Africa: Current challenges for management, diagnosis and control.
abstract: Brucellosis is a highly contagious zoonosis caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella and affecting domestic and wild mammals. In this paper, the bacteriological and serological evidence of brucellosis in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and its epidemiological characteristics are discussed. The tools available for the diagnosis and treatment of human brucellosis and for the diagnosis and control of animal brucellosis and their applicability in the context of SSA are presented and gaps identified. These gaps concern mostly the need for simpler and more affordable antimicrobial treatments against human brucellosis, the development of a B. melitensis vaccine that could circumvent the drawbacks of the currently available Rev 1 vaccine, and the investigation of serological diagnostic tests for camel brucellosis and wildlife. Strategies for the implementation of animal vaccination are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infection and Pathway Medicine, Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Chancellor's Building, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ducrotoy
authors.affiliation: Brucellosis Research Unit, National Veterinary Research Institute Vom 930001 Plateau State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Bertu
authors.affiliation: Department of Paraclinical Veterinary Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Matope
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Public Health & Preventive Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cadmus
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Salud Tropical y Depto. Microbiología y Parasitología, Universidad de Navarra, Edificio de Investigación, c/Irunlarrea 1, 31008 Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Conde-Álvarez
authors.affiliation: Brucellosis Research Unit, National Veterinary Research Institute Vom 930001 Plateau State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gusi
authors.affiliation: Division of Infection and Pathway Medicine, Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Chancellor's Building, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Welburn
authors.affiliation: Brucellosis Research Unit, National Veterinary Research Institute Vom 930001 Plateau State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ocholi
authors.affiliation: CITA-Universidad de Zaragoza-Unidad de Sanidad Animal, Avenida de Montañana 930, 50059 Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Blasco
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Salud Tropical y Depto. Microbiología y Parasitología, Universidad de Navarra, Edificio de Investigación, c/Irunlarrea 1, 31008 Pamplona, Spain. Electronic address: imoriyon@unav.es.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Moriyón
mesh_terms: D017954:Africa South of the Sahara / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002002:Brucella / Q000235:genetics*; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D012698:Serologic Tests; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Africa; Brucellosis; Control; Diagnosis; Sub-Sahara; Vaccination