Brucellosis, a zoonotic disease particularly affecting goats, emerged in Thailand in 2003, resulting in both an occupational hazard for goat keepers and livestock officers, and production losses. Farm management practices have been identified as risk factors associated with Brucella sero-positivity in many studies. Our finding in this study should be considered in order to strengthen the system of biosecurity control in farm animals as one health approach. The objectives of the study were to describe the distribution of potential risk factors by types of goat farms and to document the prevalence of human Brucella sero-positivity among goat keepers and livestock officers in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand.A cross-sectional study was conducted from September to December 2012. The study population included three types of goat farms: standard, community enterprise and private goat farms that were located in Nakhon Si Thammmarat Province in southern Thailand. Information on whether the farm had any Brucella sero-positivity goats since 2011 was retrieved from the local livestock office records. Information on farming management was also traced back to 2011. Field researchers collected information from goat keepers of the selected farms using a structured questionnaire. Goat keepers on all farms pre-identified (January to June 2012) as having had at least one positive goat were considered to have been exposed. Goat keepers on a random sample of farms having all goats with negative results were considered to be unexposed. Venous blood samples were collected from goat keepers exposed and unexposed and from livestock officers and the samples were tested by IgG ELISA. Statistical analysis was done under the complex survey design in R software.Fourteen standard farms, 66 community enterprise farms and 68 private farms participated in the study; 82.4% (122/148) used public pasture and 53.4% (79/148) shared breeder goats with other farms. Farm management practices corresponding to pre-identified risk factors were more common in private farms. Large herd size (≥ 51 goats) and having dogs and/or rats on the farm were significantly associated with Brucella infection in animals (P < 0.05). Similar proportions of goat keepers in positive goat farm and livestock officers were positive for Brucella antibody (8.3% and 8.8% respectively).Several goat farming management practices in the study area may increase the risk of Brucella infection in animals. Livestock officers in the area have a high risk of being infected with Brucella. Improving goat farm biosecurity practices in needed to reduce the risk of brucellosis in this area.

On 5 Sep 2013, a patient suspected to have leishmaniasis from Lamphun, a northern province of Thailand, was reported to the Bureau of Epidemiology. An investigation was carried out to identify reservoirs and vectors. Active case finding was carried out among those who lived within 200-meter radius from the patient’s residence. Blood samples were collected from humans, domestic mammals and rodents, and adult sandfly trapping was conducted by light traps. The patient was a 38-year-old man infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who had worked as a lumberjack and a woodcraftsman. In addition to many kinetoplasts in the bone marrow and amastigote form of Leishmania, Leishmania martiniquensis was identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A total of 12 suspected cases out of 123 surveyed villagers were identified. However, all human specimens were tested negative by direct agglutination test and PCR. Female Sergentomyia sandflies were found. Deltamethrin fogging was done to control the vectors. Visceral leishmaniasis was confirmed in an HIV positive male from northern Thailand. Awareness of leishmaniasis among immunocompromised people should be raised for timely appropriate medical attention and specific vector control for sandflies in the area should be implemented.

In April 2013, a person was confirmed to have Brucella melitensis in Chombueng District; and Ratchaburi Provincial Health Office notified about this patient to Bureau of Epidemiology. As the patient was a goatkeeper in a farm that had animal movement with other goat farms, active human case finding was conducted. History of goat movement among the related goat farms was explored to identify key persons for disease transmission in the network. Serum samples from 53 goatkeepers in 28 goat farms and two livestock officials who investigated the farm with confirmed case were tested for brucellosis. Only one goatkeeper was identified as a probable case, with attack rate of 1.8%. Goat serum specimens from 12 out of total 34 goat farms were tested positive for Brucella. In egocentric network, 44 nodes were included in the network analysis, including 34 goat farms, four slaughterhouses and six merchant’s goat shelters. Visualization from network analysis was useful to identify goat farm networks at risk of disease spreading. Key person in the network with the highest degree centrality (26) and betweenness centrality (2455.462) was identified as a merchant’s goat shelter with a goat tested positive for brucellosis. Hence, knowledge on brucellosis prevention and control should be disseminated among goatkeepers and merchants in that network. The information should also be used for strengthening communication between goat farmers and local livestock officials.