Sero-epidemiological Study of Camel Brucellosis Camelus Dromedarius and Associated Risk factors in the Butana Plain Area and Al-Gadarief State – Sudan

Abstract

Across-sectional sero-epidemiological study was conducted during the period 25thJanuary to 10th –May /2015, with aim of determining the prevalence of camel brucellosis and to investigate the potential risk factors associated with the disease in the Butana plain area and Al-Gadareif State, Sudan. A total of 320 camels in 12 herds were included in this study and blood samples (320 samples) were collected randomly from selected camels from 12 areas in 6 different locations in the two areas of this study. In this study, (289/320) 90.3% and (31/320) 9.7% were females and male camels, respectively. Serum samples were tested by Rose Bengal Plate test, and confirmed by Standard Agglutination Test (SAT). Among all serum samples screened by (RBPT), (23/320) 7.2% were sero-positive, and only (4 /23) 1.2% were confirmed positive by the SAT test. The study showed that only two herds among the 12 herds included in the study were sero-positive. The results of the study showed that the prevalence of camel brucellosis in the two areas of the study was 7.2% (23/320), and the prevalence according to the location of study was; western Butana 18.7% (23/123), northern Butana, southern Butana, eastern Butana, central Butana, and Al-Gadarief State were (0%). The prevalence of the disease was higher in Butana 7.2%, than Al-Gadarief State (0%) with significant statistical difference (p-value ≤ 0.25). Sero-prevalence of brucellosis in female camels was 7.6% relatively higher than that of male camels which was 3.2%. In univariate analysis by using chi-squire to analyze the risk factors involved in the susceptibility of brucellosis had a significant association XI with the occurrence of the disease. Thirteen risk factors had significant association with the occurrence of brucellosis, while five risk factors had no significant association with brucellosis in camels (p-value ≤ 0.25). The multivariate analysis by logistic regression to determine the strength of significance of risk factors associated with the occurrence of brucellosis showed that only two risk factors are strongly associated with brucellosis in camels (p-value ≤ 0.05). The results obtained in the current study of the present study revealed the status of sero-positivity prevalence of brucellosis in camels (Camelus Dromedarius) and the potential contribution of risk factors which contribute in the occurrence of the disease, and indicated the distribution of the disease between camel herds in Al-Gadarief State and Butana plain area. Moreover, the study indicated that brucellosis is one of the major problems affecting the health and production of camel breeds.