Characterization and evolution of countries affected by bovine brucellosis (1996–2014)

Abstract

This paper describes the global distribution and temporal evolution of bovine brucellosis due to Brucella abortus during a 19‐year period (1996–2014) using the information officially reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) by veterinary services of 156 countries. Variables that can influence the health status of bovine brucellosis (i.e., year, per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP), continent and bovine population) were also analysed. Countries were classified into three categories of health situations: ENZOOTIC: countries infected, which may have been free of brucellosis but for periods of fewer than 3 years; NON‐ENZOOTIC: countries where the disease was present but that had at least a 3‐year period without the disease; and FREE: countries where the disease remained absent during the whole period. The countries free from bovine brucellosis, or in the process of eradication, were located in Oceania and Europe, while the more affected regions were Central and South America, Africa and parts of Asia. Among the Non‐Enzootic countries, the results showed that a very high proportion managed to control the disease during the period of study, with a sharp decline in the percentage of infected countries from 71% in 1996 to 10% in 2014. Among the Enzootic countries, a much smaller proportion managed to control the disease, with a slight drop in the percentage of infected countries from 92% in 1996 to 80% in 2014. A relationship was found between the status of the disease and the availability of economic resources; thus, countries with a high GDP per capita tended to be free from bovine brucellosis. On the other hand, countries with a larger bovine population showed a greater probability to have the disease present. An increase in surveillance programmes and implementation of control policies were observed during the period of study.

Epidemiological Characteristics and Spatiotemporal Trend Analysis of Human Brucellosis in China, 1950–2018

“…Our research showed that in China, the distribution of regions with high incidence of HB had almost no overlap with the distribution of high levels of per capita GDP. This was consistent with the conclusions of many previous studies [15,21]. A global study showed that countries with relatively high per capita GDP tend to have less brucellosis; another study showed that rainfall and per capita GDP in China's temperate regions are low and negatively related to the number of cattle and sheep.…”

“…In previous studies, a clear relationship between economic resources and health status has been observed across multiple countries, where developing countries with fewer resources are more susceptible to infections [15]. At present, many studies have demonstrated the relationship between per capita gross domestic product (GDP) and the incidence of Class B infectious diseases in China.…”

Spatial-temporal distribution of human brucellosis in mainland China from 2004 to 2017 and an analysis of social and environmental factors

“…It has been indicated that changing socio-economic conditions, such as increasing population densities in urban areas and increasing GDPs, may be correlated with the possibility of infection emergence and transmission [13]. Countries with relatively high GDP are normally brucellosis-free [25]. Densely populated areas and areas with poor sanitation and hygiene contribute to the spread of foodborne and soil-borne diseases [26].…”

Persistence of Brucella abortus lineages revealed by genomic characterization and phylodynamic analysis

“…In low to middle income countries such as CR, brucellosis is a persistent disease in domestic animals that endures due to local farming practices and the easy movement of animals across borders [52]. This movement of animals or their products, allows the dispersion of infectious agents such as Brucella spp.…”