Low Seroprevalence of Brucellosis in Humans and Small Ruminants in the Gambia.
BACKGROUND
Brucellosis is a worldwide zoonosis with significant impact on rural livelihoods and a potentially underestimated contributor to febrile illnesses. The aim of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence of brucellosis in humans and small ruminants in The Gambia.


METHODS
The study was carried out in rural and urban areas. In 12 rural villages in Kiang West district, sera were collected from humans (n = 599) and small ruminants (n = 623) from the same compounds. From lactating small ruminants, milk samples and vaginal swabs were obtained. At the urban study sites, sera were collected from small ruminants (n = 500) from slaughterhouses and livestock markets. Information on possible risk factors for seropositivity was collected through questionnaires. Sera were screened for antibodies against Brucella spp. with the Rose Bengal Test, ELISA and Micro Agglutination Test (human sera only). PCR was performed on 10 percent of the milk samples and vaginal swabs from small ruminants.


RESULTS
One human and 14 sheep sera were positive by the Rose Bengal Test. The rest were negative in all serological tests used. The PCR results were all negative.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that brucellosis is currently not a generalized problem in humans or small ruminants in The Gambia.
Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
Eveline A
EA
Germeraad
Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
Lenny
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6329-7831
L
Hogerwerf
Department of Vaccinology, Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia, Banjul, Fajara, The Gambia.
Tisbeh
T
Faye-Joof
Kombo Veterinary Services, Bakau, Gambia.
Bart
B
Goossens
Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
Wim
W
van der Hoek
International Trypanotolerance Centre, Banjul, The Gambia.
Momodou
M
Jeng
Department of Disease Control and Elimination, Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia, Banjul, Fajara, The Gambia.
Modou
M
Lamin
Department of Vaccinology, Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia, Banjul, Fajara, The Gambia.
Ismaila L
IL
Manneh
Department of Disease Control and Elimination, Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia, Banjul, Fajara, The Gambia.
Davis
D
Nwakanma
Department of Bacteriology and Epidemiology, Central Veterinary Institute, part of Wageningen UR, Lelystad, The Netherlands.
Hendrik I J
HI
Roest
International Trypanotolerance Centre, Banjul, The Gambia.
Arss
A
Secka
Department of Farm Animal Health, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Arjan
A
Stegeman
Medical Research Council (MRC) International Nutrition Group, MRC Unit The Gambia, Keneba, The Gambia.
Rita
R
Wegmüller
Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.|Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Marianne A B
MA
van der Sande
Department of Disease Control and Elimination, Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia, Banjul, Fajara, The Gambia.
Ousman
O
Secka
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D002002:Brucella; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000662:veterinary; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005714:Gambia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006041:Goats / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012756:Sheep / Q000382:microbiology; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D055815:Young Adult; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology