Mekonnen Sorsa*1, Gezahegne Mamo2, Hika Waktole2, Fufa Abunna2, Aboma Zewude3, Temesgen Mohammed 4, Gobena Ameni4
Brucellosis is zoonotic disease with economic and public health significance in developing countries that rely on livestock production. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of bovine brucellosis and associated risk factors. A total of 1920 sera samples were collected from cattle and serially tested using Rose Bengal plate test, competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, and complement fixation test to detect antibodies against natural infection by Brucella species. Data was analyzed using STATA version 14.0 and potential risk factors for seropositivity of brucellosis were analyzed using logistic regression.The study revealed an overall 5.26% (95% CI=1.73, 5.04) and 36.43% (95% CI=9.18, 12.02) seroprevalence of bovine brucellosis at individual and herd level, respectively. Age, sex, herd size, abortion, retained fetal membrane, and parity were statistically significant with seropositivity for brucellosis. Older aged animals 2-4 years (OR=5.75, 95% CI=40.30-45.45) were at higher risk of Brucella infection than young 0.5 to 2 years. Large herd size >50 animals (OR =7.08, 95% CI=17.00-18.05) and medium herd size 25-50 animals (OR =1.02, 95% CI =33.06-37.04) showed higher risk of Brucella infection than small herds <25 animals. Among seropositive animals, 93.07% were female (OR=2.10, 95% CI: 0.34, 0.58). Moreover, the findings established that pastoralists had low level of awareness about brucellosis and undertook risky practices that could expose them to brucellosis. In conclusion, the prevalence of bovine brucellosis in South Omo Zone was high which warrants the need for integrated intervention strategies in place to curtail the spread of the disease.
