Abstract:
Brucellosis is one of the most common diseases among animals especially cattle, it
can attack human as well. Khartoum State is confirmed to be endemic with bovine
brucellosis yet, there is no formal strategy adopted to control the disease. The
current study aims at developing a control strategy for bovine brucellosis in
Khartoum State. The study was based on prevalence rate of 25.1% obtained by the
research project entitled: Compliance with World Trade Organization (WTO)
Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures by
Formulating a Long Term Animal Brucellosis Control Strategy in Khartoum State
in 2012. The evolution of the disease without control was projected until the year
2034 at which all mature females are expected to be infected. Six different
strategies were proposed, these were: whole herd vaccination every two years,
whole herd vaccination every six years, vaccination of female calves once,
vaccination of female calves every two years, vaccination of female calves every
six years and mature females vaccination twice every six years together with
annual calf hood vaccination. The six strategies were simulated until 2034 and
their technical and financial feasibilities were compared, technically by comparing
the prevalence rates in 2034 and financially by comparing the net benefit and the
benefit – cost ratio of the technically feasible strategies. Also the cost-effectiveness
criterion was used. Microsoft excel programme was used in the analysis. The study
revealed that all the proposed strategies except the strategy of vaccination of
female calves once are technically feasible. The cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness
analyses indicated that the strategy of mature females vaccination twice every six
years together with annual calf hood vaccination is the most feasible and cost
effective one. The prevalence rate in this strategy will drop to 4.3%in 2034, the net
benefit is SDG 1,115,087,260, the benefit -cost ratio is3.48 and it needs SDG
21,633,069.42 to drop the prevalence by 1%.The impact of the most feasible
strategy on the development wasexpressed in form ofmortality 836cows averted,
335,641,265litermilk saved,addition to calves harvest by 102,836 calves, averting
repeat breeding of 98,680 cows and saving ofSDG 4,460,349.04the cost veterinary
intervention. Above all the human health will benefit from controlling this
zoonotic disease. The study recommended adoption the strategy of mature females
vaccination twice every six years together with annual calf hood vaccination to
control bovine brucellosis in Khartoum State.
