title: Predictors of specific anti-Brucellaantibodies among humans in agro-pastoral communities in Sengerema district, Mwanza, Tanzania: the need for public awareness.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human brucellosis remains to be a neglected zoonotic disease among agro-pastoral communities where livestock rearing is one of the main economic activities. This study was conducted in different agro-pastoral communities in Sengerema district, Mwanza, Tanzania, to determine seroprevalence and predictors of anti-Brucellaantibodies, information that may influence public awareness on the risk factors and strategies to improve the diagnosis of brucellosis in developing countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional community-based study was conducted between July and September 2008 in ten villages of Sengerema district. Sociodemographic and other related information were collected using a standardized data collection tool. Detection ofBrucella abortusandBrucella melitensisantibodies were done using rapidBrucellaserum agglutination test. Data were analysed by using STATA version 11.0. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) were calculated using multivariate logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 382 adults were enrolled with the median age of 30 (interquartile range 15-40) years. Males formed the majority of the participants 234 (61.5 %). Overall, seroprevalence of anti-Brucellaantibodies was found to be 14.1 % (54/382, 95 % CI 10.6-17.5). Seroprevalence ofB. melitensiswas 11 % (42/382) while that ofB. abortuswas found to be 7 % (26/282),P= 0.0267. Co-infection ofB. melitensisandB. abortuswas observed in 3.6 % (14/382, 95 % CI 1.7-5.4) of participants. On a multivariate logistic regression analysis, male sex (AOR 3.2, 95 % CI 1.3-7.5,P= 0.007), touching goat placenta (AOR 2.54, 95 % CI 1.05-6.14,P= 0.012) and agro-pastoralist occupation (AOR 2.07, 95 % CI 1.01-4.24,P= 0.04) were found to predictB. melitensisinfection. Males (AOR 3.07, 95 % CI 1.45-6.51,P= 0.003) and agro-pastoralists (AOR 2.98, 95 % CI 1.38-6.43,P= 0.005) were found to be predictors for specific anti-Brucellaantibodies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A significant proportion of the agro-pastoralist male population in agro-pastoral communities in Sengerema district is positive for anti-Brucellaantibodies. With the decrease incidence of malaria fever, other causes of fever such asBrucellaspp. should be considered of public health concern in Tanzania especially in agro-pastoral communities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathology, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3018, Morogoro, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Elifuraha B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Mngumi
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Bugando School of Medicine, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 1464, Mwanza, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Mariam M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Mirambo
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Bugando School of Medicine, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 1464, Mwanza, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Sospeter
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Bugando School of Medicine, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 1464, Mwanza, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Stephen E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Mshana
keywords: Anti-Brucella antibodies; B. abortus; B. melitensis; Brucellosis; Sengerema