Identification of Brucella spp. and Assessing Impact of Brucellosis Control Programme on Ruminants and Human in Gharbia Governorate, Egypt

The aim of the present study was to assess the temporal impact of brucellosis control programme on ruminants and human and to identify Brucella spp. in Gharbia governorate, Egypt. Data for brucellosis in ruminants were collected from the active surveillance programme for brucellosis. Blood and tissue (lymph nodes and spleen) samples from positive animals were also collected. Data for human cases were obtained from the Ministry of Health, Gharbia governorate, Egypt. Statistical analyses were conducted to allow the comparison between different years and ruminant species. To compare between seropositive proportions for different years for each species, a univariate binary logistic regression model was used. There was no consistency in sampling and testing of animals and less than 3% were tested in any given year and the highest proportion of animals tested were cattle. There were variations in seropositive proportions in different species of tested animals and between districts. The number of reported cases of brucellosis in humans was increasing and there was a positive association with that in ruminants. About 36% and 50% of lymph nodes and spleen samples were culture positive, respectively. All isolated strains were identified as B. melitensis biovar 3. Brucellosis is an endemic disease in the study area and the current control programme (test and slaughter) doesn’t seem to be effective. Further studies are required for assessing the social and economic impacts of brucellosis. This study indicated that the impact of the current control programme of brucellosis in an endemic area of Egypt. The outcomes of this study would help policy makers to rethink about the control of brucellosis and look for alternative strategies.