Herd and animal level seroprevalence and associated risk factors of small ruminant brucellosis in the Korahey zone, Somali regional state, eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

Introduction: Brucellosis is a zoonosis of major public health and economic importance that is endemic in livestock in Ethiopia with varying levels of seroprevalence. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the individual and herd-level seroprevalence of brucellosis in small ruminants in the Korahey zone of the Ethiopian Somali Region. A total of 324 sera from 63 herds of small ruminants were collected randomly using a multistage sampling technique and the sera were tested using the Rose Bengal Plate Test, and seropositive reactors were confirmed by the Complement Fixation Test. Results and discussion: The seroprevalence of brucellosis at the herds and the individual level was 6.35% (95% CI: 0.0–13%) and 1.23% (95% CI: 0.0–2%), respectively; with 1.4% in goats and 0.9% in sheep. Moreover, predicted variables like age group, parity, history of abortion, fetal membranes, herd size, ownership of other livestock species, contact with wild animals in the past year, the introduction of new animals in the past year, and lending of breeding males in the past year were not significantly associated (p > 0.05) with Brucella seropositivity at individual and herd level seroprevalence during multivariable logistic regression analysis. Pastoral community awareness regarding the public health impact of brucellosis and the promotion of an intersectoral One Health approach for the effective control of brucellosis is recommended.